RESTRICTED  
  
WT/TPR/G/ 439 
1 February  2023 
(23-0674) Page: 1/34 
Trade Policy Review Body  Original: English  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW  
REPORT BY  
TÜRKIYE  
Pursuant to the Agreement Establishing the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (Annex 3 of the 
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization), the policy statement by Türkiye  
is attached.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note: This report is subject to restricted circulation and press embargo until the end of the 
first session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body on Türkiye . WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  Contents  
1   INTRODUCTION  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  4 
2   CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE TO PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM AND THE NEW MINISTERIAL 
STRUCTURE THAT DEAL WITH ECONOMY AND TRADE  ................................ ......................  4 
3   ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  ................................ ................................ ..........................  5 
3.1   Fiscal Policy  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  6 
3.2   Inflation and Monetary Policy  ................................ ................................ ......................  6 
3.3   Financial Sector Reforms  ................................ ................................ ............................  8 
3.4   Exports, Imports and Trade Balance  ................................ ................................ .............  9 
3.4.1   Export and Import Developments by Sectors  ................................ .............................  10 
3.4.2   Services Trade  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 11 
3.5   The Challenges of COVID -19 ................................ ................................ ......................  12 
3.6   Foreign Investment  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 13 
4   TRADE POLICIES  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 14 
4.1   Multilateral Trade Policy  ................................ ................................ .............................  15 
4.1.1   WTO Reform  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  15 
4.1.2   WTO Dispute Settlement  ................................ ................................ .........................  16 
4.1.3   JSIs under the WTO  ................................ ................................ ...............................  16 
4.1.3.1    Joint Statement Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation (JSI on SDR)  ....................  17 
4.1.3.2    Joint Statement Initiative on Investment Facilitation for Development (JSI on IFD)  ....... 17 
4.1.3.3    Joint Statement on Electronic Commerce (JSI on Ecom)  ................................ ...........  17 
4.1.3.4    Other Initiatives  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 17 
4.2   Regional Initiatives  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 18 
4.3   Türkiye – EU Relations  ................................ ................................ ..............................  19 
4.3.1   Preferential Trade Agreements  ................................ ................................ .................  19 
4.3.1.1    New Free Trade Agreements  ................................ ................................ .................  20 
4.3.1.1.1    Türkiye – United Kingdom FTA  ................................ ................................ ...........  20 
4.3.1.1.2    Türkiye -Venezuela FTA  ................................ ................................ .....................  20 
4.3.1.1.3    Türkiye -Moldova FTA  ................................ ................................ .......................  20 
4.3.1.1.4    FTAs under Ratification Process  ................................ ................................ ..........  20 
4.3.1.2    Modernization of Existing Free Trade Agreements  ................................ ....................  21 
4.3.1.2.1    EFTA Free Trade Agreement  ................................ ................................ ...............  21 
4.3.1.2.2    Bosnia and Herzegovina Free Trade Agreement  ................................ ....................  21 
4.3.1.2.3    Serbia Free Trade Agreement  ................................ ................................ .............  21 
4.3.1.2.4    Montenegro Free Trade Agreement  ................................ ................................ ..... 21 
4.3.1.2.5    Georgia Free Trade Agreement  ................................ ................................ ...........  21 
4.3.1.2.6    Malaysia Free Trade Agreement  ................................ ................................ ..........  21 
4.3.1.3    Free Trade Agreements under Negotiation  ................................ ..............................  22 
4.3.2   Türkiye's Green Transition  ................................ ................................ .......................  22 
4.4   Trade Facilitation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 23 
4.5   Türkiye in Other Multilateral Fora  ................................ ................................ ................  24 WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  4.5.1   The Group of Twenty (G20)  ................................ ................................ .....................  24 
4.5.2   MIKTA  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  24 
5   FUTURE ECONOMIC AND TRADE POLICY GOALS  ................................ ........................  25 
6   APPENDIX TABLES  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 25 
 
 
  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  The 7th Trade Policy Review of Türkiye covers a period that witnessed both a constitutional 
change towards Presidential System of Government in Türkiye and the Covid -19 pandemic that has 
caused global turmoil.  
1.2.  Despite the negative impacts of the pandemic and the  global turmoil that followed, Türkiye, 
managed to grow in an annual average of 4.7% during the review period, and increased its trade 
volume by 41%, from USD 351 billion in 2020 to 496 billion in 2021.  
1.3.  The Eleventh Development Plan (2019 -2023) covers half  the period after the last review 
process. The targets of the Plan have been determined within the framework of a growth model 
focusing on productivity, in which the industrial sector plays a leading role. This model aims 
sustainable and balanced growth, f avoring justice in income distribution, as well as green and digital 
transformation of the economy.  
1.4.  Thus, Türkiye 's focus on production and employment enabled its growth and increase in its 
trade in goods and services. Hence, almost half of the increase i n GDP in the recent years has been 
as a result of goods and services exports, which in return substantially contributed in employment. 
Combined with its geopolitical position, as well as its strong manufacturing and logistics 
infrastructure, Türkiye is bec oming an important hub for global supply chains.  
1.5.  Türkiye, prioritizing free, fair and inclusive global trade, conducts its trade policies with a view 
of shared prosperity, and follows its international responsibilities to enable a global pattern of 
sustai nable development.  
2  CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE TO PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM AND THE NEW MINISTERIAL 
STRUCTURE THAT DEAL WITH ECONOMY AND TRADE  
2.1.  Following the constitutional amendment made by the Law No. 6771 as a result of the 
referendum held on April 16, 2017, the Pr esidential System of Government was introduced to replace 
parliamentary system in Türkiye on 9 July 2018 in the aftermath of the Presidential and 
Parliamentary general elections held on 24 June 2018.  
2.2.  In order to comply with this transition, provisions of t he Law and Decree Law regarding the 
establishment, organization and duties of ministries and public institutions and organizations were 
repealed with the Decree No. 703 which entered into force on 9/7/2018. Within the scope of these 
regulations, duties and  powers of some of the ministries and public institutions changed, 
re-arrangements were made in the organization through closure, merger or renaming.  
2.3.  Within this framework, the Ministry of Customs and Trade and Ministry of Economy were 
merged under the na me of Ministry of Trade. The responsibilities and duties of the Ministry of Trade 
have been determined by the Presidency Decree No.1. Accordingly, the Ministry of Trade is 
responsible for determining and implementing policies regarding domestic and foreign  trade as well 
as the issues related to customs. The Ministry is tasked to take necessary measures to regulate 
economic activities with regard to these areas and ensure coordination with stakeholders. Also 
regulating, implementing, negotiating, following a nd contributing to commercial and customs 
cooperation with other countries and international organizations is a major responsibility of the 
Ministry. The Ministry is also responsible for domestic and foreign trade in services and goods. 
Another responsibil ity of the Ministry is to cooperate with other public institutions to ensure the 
policies falling under their authorities to be in conformity with Türkiye 's international obligations on 
trade and customs issues, including those arising from the WTO agreeme nts. In the new 
architecture, considering the increasing role in the foreign trade, The General Directorate of 
International Services was established to develop and support the service sectors subject to 
international trade, and to coordinate and implement  the policies formulated in this field by all 
relevant institutions and organizations. The establishment of the General Directorate was also aimed 
to carry out studies on logistics centers to be established abroad and monitoring and directing 
investments a broad. With regard to the customs, besides preparing and implementing customs 
policies and procedures, the Ministry is also responsible for ensuring and monitoring efficient and 
effective functioning of the customs services based on high standards; ensurin g that the 
responsibilities under the international agreements are met; controlling and inspecting persons, WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  goods and vehicles that are subject to customs control, ensuring safety and taking necessary 
measures to avoid customs infringements; preparing cust oms tariff schedules and collecting tariffs 
and related fees. Among other responsibilities of the Ministry is to monitor and inspect the safety of 
domestic and imported goods in the internal market. In order to fulfil these duties and 
responsibilities, bes ides central service units, the organizational structure of the Ministry includes a 
provincial organization. The provincial structure comprises of customs and trade regional 
directorates, provincial trade directorates and free zones. The Ministry also has Commercial 
Counsellors or trade attachés working under the umbrella of  the Embassies, Consulates 
or Permanent Missions of Türkiye to the international organizations abroad. The Ministry, working in 
coordination with Chambers of Commerce, as well as other r elated Associations, provides and 
monitors necessary services with regard to their functions. Besides, exporters associations and their 
umbrella institution, Turkish Exporters Assembly, are operating in close cooperation with the 
Ministry. Competition Auth ority, Türk Eximbank and Halal Accreditation Agency are related 
institutions of the Ministry.  
2.4.  The Ministry of Treasury and Finance was established by merger of the Ministry of Finance and 
the Undersecretariat of Treasury which was affiliated to the Office of Prime Ministry. While the duties 
of the Ministry of Finance regarding the budget were transferred to the Department of Strategy and 
Budget under the Presidency; its duties regarding public properties and treasury -owned immovable 
properties were transfer red to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization. On the other hand, the 
Capital Markets Board, the Development Bank of Türkiye, the Banking Regulation and Supervision 
Agency, the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye, Ziraat Bank, Halk Bank and Vakif lar Bank have 
been made associated with the Ministry. With the Presidential Decree No. 47, the General Directorate 
of Insurance and the Insurance Supervisory Board, which were service units of the Ministry, were 
abolished. The duties related to insurance c arried out by them were transferred to the Insurance 
and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Agency of the Ministry. With the Presidential Decree 
No. 76, the Turkish Statistical Institute has been turned into related institution of the Ministry in 
order to strengthen its scientific and technical autonomy.  
2.5.  The name of the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology was changed to the Ministry of 
Industry and Technology. The duties related to investment incentives carried out by the abolished 
Ministry  of Economy and the duties of ensuring the coordination of sectoral and regional growth and 
development agencies carried out by the abolished Ministry of Development were transferred to the 
Ministry of Industry and Technology. In this context, while region al development administrations 
were associated to the Ministry, development agencies became related institutions of the Ministry. 
With the Presidential Decree No. 23, the Turkish Space Agency related to the Ministry is established 
and the task of executing  the aviation and space -related activities previously carried out by the 
Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure is transferred to this institution. With the Presidential Decree 
No. 59, the task of determining and implementing the principles of the "Natio nal Technology Move" 
aimed at technological breakthrough at the national level was assigned to the Ministry.  
2.6.  The duties and authorities of the abolished Ministry of Development and the budgetary duties 
and authorities of the Ministry of Finance were transf erred to the Strategy and Budgeting Directorate 
established under the Presidency.1 
3  ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  
3.1.  In 2016 and 2017, the Turkish economy grew by 3.3% and 7.5%, respectively. This growth is 
directly linked to private consumption and fixed capital inve stments. While net exports negatively 
contributed -2.2% to growth in 2016 and -3.7% in 2017.  
3.2.  Turkish economy grew by 3% in 2018 and reached US D 803.4 billion. Total contribution of net 
exports to economic growth was realized as -0.2% percent in 2018.  
3.3.  In 2019, Türkiye showed a growth of 0.8% with the contribution of 2.4% of net exports. On 
the other hand, one year later, with the rapid increase in imports, the contribution of net exports 
became negative again with -3.5%. In 2020, with the effect of the pan demic, the Turkish economy 
grew in a modest pace of 1.9%.  
 
1 For a detailed description of the Presidential System please refer to: 
https://www.tccb.gov.tr/en/presidency/power/ . WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  3.4.  Türkiye was one of the highest growing countries with 11.4% GDP growth in 2021. The GDP 
growth in 2021 is directly linked to private consumption and fixed capital investment. Exports of 
goods and s ervices increased by 24.9% while imports of goods and services increased by 2.4% in 
2021 compared to the previous year.  
3.5.  Türkiye also grew faster than many country groups, including the OECD, G7, EU and Euro Area 
average in the first half of 2022. The grow th rate which was 7.3% in the first quarter of 2022, 
increased further in the second quarter and realized as 7.6%, while in the third quarter growth rate 
became 3.9%, thus Türkiye managed to grow continuously in the last nine quarters. The contribution 
of exports to the 6.2% average growth rate in the first three quarters of 2022 has been 
3.4 percentage points.  
3.1  Fiscal Policy  
3.6.  The Turkish Government's medium to long -term fiscal strategy seeks to strengthen 
macroeconomic and financial stability by increasing growth performance while reducing current 
account deficit and achieving inflation target.  
3.7.  Central government budget defici t/GDP ratio was 1.1%, 1.5%, 1.9% and 2.9% in 2016, 2017, 
2018 and 2019 respectively. Based on the Maastricht criterion, which sets 3% as the ceiling, overall 
Türkiye outperformed 23 EU countries. On the other hand, Türkiye proactively applied fiscal polici es 
in order to alleviate the impact of the global Covid 19 pandemic. Although these policies led to 
increase in government spending, and lowered tax revenues, budget deficit/GDP ratio realized as 
3.5% in 2020. In 2021, the Central Government Budget balance  outperformed mainly due to high 
economic growth. Consequently, budget deficit to GDP was 2.8% in 2021, significantly below the 
Medium -Term Program (2022 -2024) projection, which is 3.5%. In 2022, budget deficit/GDP ratio is 
projected to be 3.4%. In additio n; EU -defined general government debt/GDP ratio of Türkiye was 
39.3% as of 2022 Q2, which again was well below the level in the Maastricht Criterion (60%).  
3.2  Inflation and Monetary Policy  
3.8.  In the 2016 -2022 period, the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT) continued to 
implement inflation targeting together with a floating exchange rate regime. In doing so, the primary 
objective has been to achieve sustainable price stability.  
3.9.  In 2016, the CBRT 's policy stance remained tight regarding the inflation o utlook, stabilizing for 
the foreign exchange liquidity and accommodative for financial stability. In the March -September 
period of 2016, the decline in inflationary pressures, tightness in financial conditions and the 
moderate course of global financial ma rkets facilitated the CBRT to implement simplification in the 
interest rate corridor policy. Accordingly, the upper bound of the corridor was lowered by 250 basis 
points through measured and cautious steps in this period. To curtail the effects of the glob al 
developments on inflation expectations and the pricing behavior, in November, the CBRT raised the 
one-week repo rate and the CBRT overnight lending rate by 50 and 25 basis points, respectively, 
while in December 2016, policy rates were kept unchanged.  
3.10.  In 2017, the CBRT sought to play a counter ‑balancing role against external risks throughout 
the year. During the first four months of 2017, the CBRT raised its overnight lending rate from 8.5% 
to 9.25% in order to mitigate the upward risks to pricing behavi or driven by volatilities in the 
exchange rate market. Inflation outlook and inflation expectations posed risks to pricing behavior, 
making it necessary to maintain tight monetary policy stance for the rest of the year. Therefore, the 
CBRT subsequently mai ntained the same stance during the remaining of the year. The predictability 
of the monetary policy was significantly enhanced by consistently directing most of the CBRT 's 
funding through a single channel throughout the year.  
3.11.  In 2018, the CBRT was focused on enhancing the predictability of the monetary policy and to 
reinforcing the transmission mechanism. Hence, the simplification process in the operational context 
of the monetary policy completed with a press release on May 28 , 2018. Accordingly, the one -week 
repo auction rate was set as the policy rate. Upon the deterioration in the pricing behavior and 
increasing inflationary risks, the CBRT delivered a strong monetary tightening in September to keep 
inflation and inflation e xpectations under control and raised the policy rate to 24%. With the adoption 
of strong monetary measures and coordinated actions in economic policies, the pricing behavior WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  normalized in the last quarter of 2018, and the inflation outlook improved gradual ly. In addition, 
important steps were taken to enhance the efficient functioning of the markets by considering the 
exchange rate volatility and unhealthy price formation and also to improve the transmission 
mechanism.  
3.12.  In 2019, the CBRT made its monetary po licy decisions by considering the indicators for the 
underlying trend of inflation, and determined the extent of monetary tightness in a way to ensure 
the continuation of the disinflation process. In the first half of 2019, the CBRT kept the one -week 
repo rate constant at 24% and introduced a series of decisions regarding the liquidity management. 
The alleviation of the cumulative exchange rate effects and the mild course of domestic demand led 
to a marked improvement in inflation dynamics. In the second ha lf of the year, considering the 
improvement in the inflation outlook, the CBRT reduced the policy rate to 12% via rate cuts in July, 
September, October, and December. To ensure effective functioning of markets and transmission 
mechanism in the face of vola tilities and unhealthy price formation in financial markets, the CBRT 
expanded its set of instruments. Consequently, the CBRT effectively used macroprudential tools such 
as reserve requirements for financial stability purposes.  
3.13.  In 2020, the CBRT implemente d a supportive policy against the adverse effects of the 
COVID -19 pandemic. In this context, the CBRT continued to deliver policy rate cuts during March -
May. In addition, the CBRT implemented a comprehensive set of measures within its liquidity 
management framework. Moreover, the CBRT lowered foreign currency reserve requirement ratios 
for banks meeting specific credit conditions. Assessing that the supply -side constraints, which 
emerged shortly after the adoption of COVID -19 measures, would gradually disap pear and 
disinflationary effects would become more pronounced in the second half of the year, the CBRT kept 
its policy rate constant in June and July. However, evaluating that uncertainties regarding the course 
of domestic and external demand conditions re mained significant due to the progress of the 
pandemic, the CBRT decided to keep the policy rate unchanged and continued to maintain the 
liquidity measures in August. Therefore, coordinated tightening steps had been taken within 
pandemic -related policies s tarting from early August. In September, the CBRT assessed that the 
tightening steps taken since August should be strengthened in order to contain inflation expectations 
and limit the risks to the inflation outlook, and accordingly, the policy rate was rai sed by 200 basis 
points. In November, in order to eliminate risks to the inflation outlook, to contain inflation 
expectations and to rapidly restore the disinflation process, the CBRT hiked its policy rate from 
10.25% to 15% and decided to provide all shor t-term funding through its main policy instrument, 
the one -week repo auction rate, within a simple operational framework.  
3.14.  In 2021, the CBRT kept the policy rate constant at 17% in January and February and also 
shared its assessment that the decelerating im pact of the strong monetary tightening in 2020 on 
credit and domestic demand was expected to become more significant. In March 2021, considering 
the upside risks to inflation expectations, pricing behavior and the medium -term inflation outlook, 
the CBRT de cided to implement a front -loaded monetary tightening and increased the policy rate 
from 17% to 19%. In the second quarter of 2021, the CBRT communicated that the monetary stance 
would continue to be determined to restore the disinflation process and to ac hieve the medium -term 
inflation targets. Accordingly, in view of the inflation outlook and inflation expectations, the CBRT 
kept the policy rate constant at 19% during April -August period. Strong increases in global 
commodity prices, especially energy and food, supply constraints caused by ongoing disruptions in 
the global supply chain, and exchange rate developments continued to pose pressure on consumer 
prices in 2021 and became the main drivers of the increase in inflation. By analyzing the effects of 
demand factors, core inflation developments and supply shocks on inflation, the CBRT reduced the 
policy rate by a total of 500 basis points in the September -December 2021 period to 14%.  
3.15.  In 2022, the CBRT announced its "lira -ization" strategy, which aims to make the Turkish lira 
the essential element of the financial system. In addition, the CBRT assessed that inflation increased 
due to the rise in energy costs driven by geopolitical developments, the temporary effects of pricing 
formations detached from econ omic fundamentals, the supply -side factors such as rising global 
energy, food and agricultural commodity prices and supply constraints as well as demand 
developments. Therefore, the CBRT kept the policy rate unchanged during January -July 2022 period. 
The C BRT emphasized the importance of the fact that financial conditions remain supportive to 
preserve the growth momentum in industrial production and the positive trend in employment in a 
period of increasing uncertainties regarding global growth as well as e scalating geopolitical risks. 
Accordingly, the CBRT reduced the policy rate by 200 basis points in August -September 2022 period. 
Besides the interest rate policy, the CBRT actively used all other tools at its disposal in an integrated WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  framework within the "lira-ization" strategy. Accordingly, the CBRT decisively took measures to align 
the growth rate and composition of loans with real economic activity. Also, the CBRT actively used 
its policy set to direct loans to targeted areas, i.e. exports and investmen ts, which will expand the 
production capacity. This, in turn, is expected to bring inflation down to sustainably low levels.  
3.16.  To create an institutional basis for sustainable price stability, the comprehensive review of 
the policy framework continues with t he aim of incentivizing permanent and strengthened "lira -
ization" in all policy tools of the CBRT. The focus of this process is on developing policy instruments 
to support the improvement of Turkish lira deposits, to increase Turkish lira -denominated asset s in 
the collateral structure of open market operations funding, to gradually reduce the volume of swaps, 
and to strengthen foreign exchange reserves.  
3.17.  Disinflation process is expected to start on the back of measures taken and decisively 
implemented for s trengthening sustainable price and financial stability along with the resolution of 
the ongoing regional conflict. Therefore, in line with the inflation outlook, the CBRT has been 
effectively using the policy mix composing of liquidity, collateral, reserve  requirements and 
management of international reserves together with the interest rate policy. In the context of the 
integrated policy framework, the CBRT has actively used its instruments within the "lira -ization" 
perspective, and will continue to do so i n order to meet its price stability objective at a permanent 
basis.  
3.3  Financial Sector Reforms  
3.18.  The regulatory and supervisory framework of Türkiye 's banking sector is recognized as third 
country equivalent to the European Union (EU) legislation in terms of the EU Regulation 575/2013 
on Prudential Requirements for Credit Institutions and Investment Firms. Likewise, according to the 
results of the Regulatory Consistency Assessment Program as of 2016, which was carried out by the 
Basel Committee, Türkiye 's risk -based capital regulations and liquidity coverage ratio regulation are 
considered fully in line with international standards which are globally known as Basel III standards. 
Being a G20 member country, Türkiye 's Financial Sector Assessment Program -FSAP rev iew was 
carried out by International Monetary Fund and World Bank in 2016. As of 2021, a new FSAP review, 
which is still going on, has commenced for the term 2016 -2021.  
3.19.  The Law on Payment and Security Settlement Systems, Payment Services and Electronic 
Money Institutions No. 6493, prepared based on the related EU regulations has been accepted on 
20 June 2013 and entered into force on June 27, 2013. With the Law No. 6493; operations and 
surveillance of payment systems and security settlement systems as well as the operating principles 
of system operators have been regulated. In accordance with this law and secondary regulations 
regarding the systems, CBRT is the competent authority to grant a license to payment and electronic 
money institutions and to supervi se them. Moreover, CBRT is authorized to license and oversee 
institutions, provide clearing and settlement services for debit and credit cards, and is also defined 
as "system operator" within the Law No. 6493. On the other hand, activities related to debit  and 
credit cards determined by Law on Bank Cards and Credit Cards No. 5464 as establishing a card 
system, issuing cards, entering into agreements with merchants and exchanging information are 
under the jurisdiction of Banking Regulation and Supervision Ag ency (BRSA).  
3.20.  "International Financial Reporting Standard 9 - Financial Instruments (IFRS 9)" has been in 
force since January 1, 2018 for banking sector in Türkiye. Banks are required to implement their 
provisioning practices according to this standard and " the Regulation on Procedures and Principles 
for Classification of Loans and Provisions to be Set Aside" has been revised in accordance with 
IFRS 9. 
3.21.  As a response to fluctuations in financial markets in August and September 2018, the Financial 
Restructuring  Framework Agreements were made aiming to provide practical and efficient grounds 
to the recovery of the real sector to fulfill their debt repayment obligations to the financial sector 
within a reasonable time and under reasonable conditions, and to contin ue contributing to 
employment. These agreements are prepared pursuant to the Provisional Article 32 of the Banking 
Law No. 5411 (BL). The Provisional Article 32 of the BL was to be applied for a term of 2 years 
starting from July 19, 2019. For the purpose of supporting the healthy and effective exit from the 
pandemic, the implementation period was extended for another 2 years (until July 2023) with the 
Presidential Decree No. 4299 and dated 14 July 2021.  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  3.22.  Systemically important banks are required to prepare and submit recovery plans to the BRSA 
with the Amendment on the BL dated February 20, 2020. The Regulation on Recovery Plans to be 
Prepared by Systemically Important Banks was published in the Official Gazette dated 
16 March  2021 in order to bring more cla rity about the expectations with respect to the contents of 
the recovery plans, roles and responsibilities of the involved parties and the implementation of the 
rules introduced with the Amendment, in line with the Financial Stability Board (FSB) 's Key Att ributes 
of Effective Resolution Regimes for Financial Institutions and EU 's Bank Recovery and Resolution 
Directive, and relevant European Banking Authority (EBA) guidelines.  
3.23.  Regarding FinTech and digital innovation, in 2021, it has been made possible to establish 
contractual relations between banks and their customers in electronic environment, including 
contracts that must be in written form. Moreover, legislative infrastructure for both digital 
(branchless) banking model and banking as a ser vice model are established at the end of 2021. 
Also, "Querying of Banks Holding Deposit/Participation Fund Accounts" service as a part of 
e-Government gateway has been initiated in March 2020 with the aim of account information 
accessibility for financial consumers in an efficient way.  
3.24.  Regarding sustainable finance, starting from 2019, energy efficiency class of real estates has 
become one of the criteria to determine the loan to value ratio of mortgage loan. Furthermore, the 
basic requirements for sustaina ble lending and management of climate related financial risks were 
determined in the Guideline on Loan Origination and Monitoring published in June 2021. According 
to this Guideline, banks should also consider Environmental, Social and Governance -ESG crite ria in 
in their loan allocation policies. Lastly, BRSA Sustainable Banking Strategic Plan (2022 -2025) was 
prepared taking into account the opinions and suggestions of stakeholders and disclosed to public 
at the end of 2021.2 
3.25.  Saving financing companies, op erating in Türkiye, were started to be regulated and 
supervised under the Financial Leasing, Factoring, Financing and Savings Financing Companies Law 
No. 6361 with the amendment made by the Law No. 7292, published in the Official Gazette dated 
7 March  2021. 
3.26.  With respect to capital markets, regulatory and technical infrastructure was completed for the 
operation of Istanbul Custody and Settlement Bank (Takasbank) as central counterparty in Borsa 
İstanbul markets as well as over -the-counter (OTC) derivatives m arkets. Furthermore, as of 2018 
the central securities depository (MKK) was instituted as trade repository. Further capital market 
reforms were carried out in relation to increasing product diversity (with the introduction of new 
financing instruments such  as project backed securities, green bonds, and crowdfunding), enhancing 
investor protection (such as implementation of more effective administrative and criminal sanctions, 
and improvements to public disclosure standards including ESG reporting), and mark et development 
(such as the establishment of the central electronic platforms TEFAS and BEFAS for the trading of 
investment fund and pension fund units).  
3.4  Exports, Imports and Trade Balance  
3.27.  Türkiye 's exports which were realized as US D 149.2  billion, US D 164.5 billion, 
USD 177.2  billion in 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively, amounted to US D 180.8  billion in 2019. 
After a decrease to US D 169.6  billion in 2020 due to the pandemic, exports reached 
USD 225.2  billion in 2021 with an increase of 32.8%. Türkiye 's sha re in the global trade exceeded 
1% for the first time in 2021.  
3.28.  Türkiye exhibited a gripping foreign trade performance in 2021, comparing the global trends 
and averages. According to World Trade Organization (WTO), the dollar value of world merchandise 
exports rose 26.5% to US D 22.3 trillion in 2021. Thus, Türkiye with 32.8% increase embraced an 
export expansion stronger than global average.  
3.29.  Türkiye 's imports were recorded as US D 202.2  billion, US D 238.7  billion, US D 231.2  billion, 
USD 210.3  billion and USD 219.5  billion in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively. Imports 
were recorded at US D 271.4  billion in 2021.  
 
2 Viewed at: https://www.bddk.org.tr/KurumHakkinda/EkGetir/19?ekId=71 . WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  3.30.  Türkiye 's foreign trade volume that was recorded as US D 351.4  billion in 2016 reached 
USD 496.6  billion in 2021. While the export import  coverage ratio was 83% in 2021, the ratio of 
foreign trade deficit to GDP was 5.7% in the same year. The ratio of total trade volume/GDP was 
61.5% by 2021.  
3.4.1   Export and Import Developments by Sectors  
3.31.  Sectoral composition of Türkiye 's exports has been chan ging towards more capital and 
technology intensive products since its last review, similar with the developments in global trends in 
world trade. In 2016, medium -high and high -tech products in Turkish exports amounted to 
USD 48.9 billion and reached US D 77.5 billion in 2021 with an increase of 58,5%.  
3.32.  On the other hand, Türkiye 's import composition has been changing towards more 
intermediate goods and less consumption goods since its last review. In comparison with 2016, in 
2021, imports of intermediate good s increased by 54.7% to US D 210.1  billion, investment goods 
increased by 4.4% to US D 34.4 billion, consumption goods decreased by 19.5% to US D 27 billion. 
Therefore, the share of intermediate goods has increased to 77.4% from 67.2%, investment goods 
have d ecreased to 12.7% from 16.3% and consumption goods have decreased to 9.9% from 16.5%.  
3.33.  In terms of export sectors; automotive, machinery and electrical and electronics industry 
exports, a product group dominated by high value added and high -tech products, c omes to the for 
front. The value of exports in this sector reached US D 60.6 billion in 2021, representing a share of 
26.9% in total exports (Table.2, iv. Machinery and Transport Equipment).  
3.34.  Particularly the automotive industry products played the most significant role in increasing 
the share of relatively high capital -intensive products in Türkiye 's exports. In 2021, export of this 
industry has increased by 11.8% compared to previous year and reached US D 24.1 billion 
(Table.2,  iv. Machinery and Transpor t Equipment, (781, 782, 783, 784, 7132, 7783) Automotive 
products).  
3.35.  In line with the intensification of Turkish companies' efforts in the automobile sector in recent 
years, six major Turkish companies came together and established Türkiye's Automobile Init iative 
Group (TOGG) in 2018. In this context, the construction of the production facility of the vehicles was 
completed in 2022 and Türkiye's first domestic car TOGG, with the same brand name as the Group, 
is planned to start mass production in the first q uarter of 2023. The TOGG automobile, which will be 
offered to the market in the C segment suv model in the first stage, will be fully electric and will use 
TOGG's proprietary concept of "use case mobility" system.3  
3.36.  The Turkish machinery sector, including the electrical and electronics sector, has also been a 
critical sector in terms of its contribution to Türkiye 's GDP and qualified workforce. This sector plays 
an important role in the development of the Turkish manufacturing sector by providing inputs to key 
sectors such as chemistry, construction, automotive, energy, textile, agriculture and mining. In 
2021, export of the industry has increased by 29.3% compared to previous year and reached 
USD 36.4 billion. (Table.2, iv. Machinery and Transport  Equipment, In 2021, the ratio of export to 
import in this industry has reached to 69.7%.  
3.37.  As another important export sector, steel production in Türkiye has increased significantly 
since 2001, growing from 15 million metric tons in 2001 to 40.4 million me tric tons in 2021. Growth 
of the industry has been driven by strong domestic consumption. In addition to strong domestic 
demand and dynamic steel using industries, Türkiye 's well -placed geographical position also 
supported exports and production. As the Wo rld's 7th largest steel producer, Türkiye 's iron and steel 
export reached US D 18.9 billion in 2021, with an increase of 87.3% with respect to 2020 (Table.2, 
3-i. Iron and steel (67)). All steel companies in Türkiye are privately held and Turkish steelmaker s 
continue to pursue technological developments to enhance the long -term viability of the industry in 
the global marketplace. The steel industry has become one of the most developed sectors in Türkiye 
and today counts as the fourth largest contributor to T urkish economy.  
 
3 Use Case Mobility: This approach consists of the initials of User -Centric, Smart, Empathetic, Connected, 
Autonomous, Shared, Electric. While traditional car manufacturers define the transition to the electric car world 
as CASE, Togg defines it as "USECASE Mobility, putting the user at the center.  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  3.38.  The Turkish textile and apparel sectors (including textile and raw materials, ready -made 
clothing and apparel, carpet, leather and leather products sectors) have also been among the most 
critical sectors in terms of contribution to GDP, emp loyment generation and net exports. Türkiye 
aimed to make Istanbul one of the most attractive fashion center of the world via Istanbul Fashion 
Week that has been getting increasingly more attention from the fashion world. Focusing on value 
added products, the local clothing industry concentrated on new designs and fashion collections for 
the top end international apparel market. With the aim of increasing the value added in these 
products, many events were organized with the participation of industry leader s from all over the 
world on sustainable production and digitalization methods in production, and financing new 
investments. In 2021, the sector maintained its net exporter position. Exports in the textile and 
apparel sectors (including textile and raw mat erials, ready -made clothing and apparel, carpet, 
leather and leather products sectors) increased by 26.7% in 2021 compared to the previous year 
and reached US D 36.2 billion, while imports in these sectors totaled US D 12.6 billion. Textile and 
apparel secto rs' exports constituted %16.1 of Türkiye 's total exports.  
3.39.  Türkiye 's chemicals exports has been further accelerating the diversification of the sectoral 
composition and laying the ground for moving into more high -tech and high -value products segment. 
While  Türkiye 's chemicals exports was US D 8.4 billion in 2016 and recorded a share of 5,4% in total 
exports, in 2021 it rose to US D 16.1 billion by increasing 99%, which almost doubled the pace of 
total exports in this period and its share reached 7,3%. The pro duct breakdown of Türkiye 's 
chemicals exports also indicates that exports of inorganic and organic chemicals, pharmaceutical 
products and fertilizers have recorded comparatively higher performance. This shows that the 
product range is also expanding toward s the upstream, capital and tech -intensive products.  
3.40.  Türkiye aims to develop high -tech and value -added chemical products together with an 
ecosystem thriving on technology, innovation and sustainability. With this goal, Exporters ' 
Association initiated the "Chemistry Technology Center" project. The Center will act as an advanced 
R&D center for the chemistry and related industries in Türkiye. Within the concept of this Center 
there will be entrepreneurship incubation center and sustainability center. These tw o centers aim to 
stimulate the development of new technologies, inventions, facilitate the adaptation of new 
processes to industry and improve the transition of the sector to high -tech, high -value and 
innovative fields.  
3.41.  Türkiye is the largest producer and exporter of the agricultural and food products in the 
Eastern European, the North African and the Near and Middle Eastern regions. Despite the negative 
effects of the C OVID -19 pandemic, total exports of agricultural and food industry products have 
been inc reased by 4.9% and reached approximately US D 20.7 billion in 2020. Then in 2021 
increased by 21% and reached US D 25 billion, which is the highest export figure in the history of 
Turkish food and agricultural products export. Türkiye exports agricultural an d food products to more 
than 200  countries in the world. About 30% of the exports are directed to European Union countries.  
3.42.  In terms of import sectors, in 2021, the first three sectors with the highest share in the import 
composition were; (1) energy prod ucts with a share of 18.7%, (2) machinery, white goods and 
information products with a share of 11.4%, and (3) chemicals with a share of 10.6%. Compared to 
2016, the main sectors whose imports increased in 2021 are; (1) iron and steel increased by 117.5% 
to USD 27.6 billion, (2) energy products increased by 84.6% to US D 50.7 billion, and (3) chemicals 
and products increased by 61.4% to US D 28.8 billion. The sectors whose imports decreased are 
(1) various manufactured goods and works of art decreased by 33.4% to US D 601.5  million, (2)  live 
animals and animal products decreased by 22.8% to US D 895 million, and (3) vehicles decreased 
by 15.8% to US D 19.8 billion.4 
3.4.2   Services Trade  
3.43.  The services sector has a prominent role in terms of economic ac tivity, employment 
generation and trade at both domestic and international levels. Efficient operation of services 
markets improves productivity both in the services sectors and industries using services as inputs. 
 
4 The product classifications in this para have been prepared by using the "compact  sectoral classification" 
method with 12 digits national classification. Therefore, the categorizations in here are different from the annexed 
tables.  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  Services also account for a higher share of GDP which can be explained that labor productivity is 
significantly higher for services than in other sectors.  
3.44.  The services sector 's share in Türkiye 's GDP was 60.3% in 2021. Furthermore, growth in 
services industry (12.65%) outpaced that of any other e conomic activity, registering even higher 
than the overall GDP growth (10.99%) in the same year.  
3.45.  Services account for 21% of Türkiye 's gross exports but for over 50% in value added terms. 
This indicates that Türkiye 's exports of goods rely intensively on s ervices inputs. As of 2021, Türkiye 
stands as the 25th largest commercial service exporter in the world with an export value of 
USD 55.6 billion. As for 2022, Türkiye targets to exceed US D 90 billion in services exports.  
3.46.   In line with the developments in t he world, Türkiye's Information and Communication 
Technologies (ICT) sector has shown a rapid development. The market reached nearly US D 30 billion 
in 2021. (with the share of information technologies and communication services being 43% and 
57% respective ly.)  
3.47.  Thus, the most striking increase in services exports was in the IT sector, whose exports 
increased from US D 1 billion in 2016 to US D 2.6 billion in 2021. Due to the fact that the IT sector 
interacts with different sectors, it might be argued that this figure is much higher than the official 
figures.  
3.48.  Fintech, cybersecurity, gaming, ICT in healthcare, ICT in mobility, e -commerce, 
e-government, and telecommunications are just a few of the sub -sectors within the ICT industry 
that have seen rapid techno logical development and growth.  
3.49.  USD 24.4 billion of Türkiye's total services exports in 2021 was realized by the transportation 
services sector. This sector ranks first with a share of 43.4% in total service exports in 2021 and 
the share of the sector in s ervice exports is increasing every year. It is estimated that this amount 
will increase to US D 35 billion in the year 2023.  
3.50.  Audio -visual services, fundamentally including motion picture production and distribution 
services, motion picture projection servic es have also been an integral element of growth in GDP 
and labor market in Türkiye.  
3.51.  Türkiye is currently one of the most prominent global audio -visual service providers with the 
pioneering role of Turkish TV series being exported to over 160 different coun tries, reaching an 
audience potential over the 800 million.  
3.52.  Türkiye is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The number of visitors 
increased from 31.4 million in 2016 to 51.9 million in 2019 and then drastically reduced to 
15.8 millio n in 2019 and rebounded to 29.4 million in 2021. Tourism revenue, which was 
USD 22.8 billion in 2016, was realized as US D 27 billion, 30.5 billion, 38.9 billion, 14.8 billion in 
2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 respectively. In 2021, tourism receipts totaled US D 30.2 billion despite the 
decrease in the number of visitors compared to 2018.  
3.5  The Challenges of C OVID -19 
3.53.  The pandemic has negatively affected Türkiye as well as the rest of the world. However, 
Türkiye has implemented an economic support package with expansio nary monetary policy and 
other regulatory measures that encourage credit expansion in order to overcome the economic crisis 
caused by COVID -19. In this context, Türkiye's economy was the second fastest growing economy 
with 1.8% in 2020 among G20 countries.  
3.54.  Like many other countries, Türkiye adopted a series of export measures in response to the 
COVID -19 pandemic. These measures mostly consisted of implementation of export registration 
rather than prohibition and terminated as soon as the situation got back to normal. Export limitations 
on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), input material for PPE and hygiene products, certain 
medical equipment and devices and lemon were terminated accordingly. Also, in order to ensure 
supply chain security and price stabili ty in basic agricultural products, customs duties were reduced 
temporarily at varying rates.  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  3.55.  Some of the main actions introduced to reduce the negative effects of Covid at customs are 
contact -free trade, transit procedures and pre -arrival Customs clearance  scheme. Firstly, being 
cautious on not to spread the COVID -19 whilst sustaining foreign trade operations, Turkish Ministry 
of Trade adopted a new, contactless approach, namely "Contact -Free Trade", which would allow 
foreign trade operations to continue in  a controlled manner. Secondly, during the COVID -19 
Pandemic, when goods were transported under the transit procedure, fines were removed if there is 
a change of declared Office of Destination/Departures and for the Carriers who exceeded the time 
limit for  the transit regime because of the pandemic conditions. In addition to that, fines were also 
removed for the time limit on enquiry procedure for discrepancies found out at the Office of 
Destination for the transit operations.  
3.56.  Thirdly, on 23 April 2019, Tü rkiye had set the rules with a Communique regarding the 
commencement of the procedures for customs clearance of raw materials and semi -finished goods, 
which arrive at the Customs Territory of Türkiye by means of maritime container transport and which 
can b e used as input in domestic production. Besides, some medical products (e.g. surgical gloves, 
respirators) have been included in the scope of pre -arrival customs clearance on 3 March  2020 
regardless of whether they can be used as input for the manufacturin g sector or not.  
3.57.  Also, assistance to foreign countries within the scope of the fight against the pandemic has 
been part of Türkiye 's humanitarian foreign policy, and in this context, the aid requests received 
from many countries of the world were met to the extent of Türkiye 's capabilities. To date, Türkiye 
has received aid requests from many countries in different forms (material grants, cash aid, 
sales/export permits) and Türkiye has provided assistance to 155 countries. Of the 155 countries 
Türkiye has  provided assistance to, 128 are grants, 73 are purchase and export permits, and 
45 countries have received cash assistance.  
3.58.  Türkiye 's assistance mainly consisted of in -kind medical supplies, especially personal 
protective equipment; in addition, Türkiye a lso provided respiratory equipment produced by Türkiye 
to the countries in need as grants.  
3.6  Foreign Investment  
3.59.  FDI legislation, which has been in force since 17 June 2003, provides a secure environment 
for foreign investors by ensuring equal treatment for b oth domestic and foreign investors and 
guaranteeing the transfer of profits. In the period between 2004 -21, Türkiye had 14 times more FDI 
(USD 237.4  billion) than it had attracted during the previous 80 years.  According to the balance of 
payments statistic s of the CBRT, total value of FDI inflow was US D 13.8 billion in 2016; 
USD 11.2 billion in 2017, US D 12.5 billion in 2018; US D 9.6 billion in 2019; US D 7.8 billion in 2020; 
USD 13.2 billion in 2021 and US D 10.3 billion as of October 2022.   
3.60.  Investment incentives, which are designed and implemented by the Ministry of Industry and 
Technology, are based on the provisions of Presidential Decrees and implementing communiqués. 
Türkiye 's current Investment Incentive Program became effective by the C ouncil of Minister 's Decree 
No. 2012/3305 dated 15 June 2012.  
3.61.  The Investment Incentive Program aims to steer savings into high value added investments, 
to boost production and employment, to encourage large scale and strategic investments with high 
R&D con tent within the context of highly competitive international environment, to increase foreign 
direct investments, to reduce regional development disparities and to promote investments for 
clustering and environment protection for the production and growth s trategy in line with the 
projected targets in Development Plans and Annual Programs as well as international agreements. 
Investments are supported through four different incentive schemes designed within the scope of 
the Incentive Program. Contributions pr ovided to investors through incentive measures depend on 
the characteristics of the investment and one or more of the following applicable schemes: regional 
investment incentive scheme, priority investment incentive scheme, strategic investment incentive 
scheme, and general investment incentive scheme.  
3.62.  In addition to the current incentive system, Project Based Incentive Program entered into 
force on November 26, 2016 with the Decree Concerning State Encouragements to Investments on 
Project Basis, No.2016/9 495. The purpose of the Decree is to support innovative, research and WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  development focused, and high value -added investments on project basis with flexible instruments 
to ensure supply security, and realize technological transformation.  
3.63.  Türkiye has signed B ilateral Investment Treaties (BIT) with 111 countries, 87 of these 
agreements has entered into force. In addition to its Bilateral Investment Agreements, Türkiye 
signed more comprehensive investment provisions with South Korea and Singapore in 2015 in the 
FTAs. 
3.64.  Thus, Türkiye 's domestic and international efforts with regard to foreign investments aim in 
general to facilitate investment and create a free, fair, transparent and secure environment for all 
investors in conformity with its international obligatio ns to encourage high -value added, technology 
intensive, green and regionally wide -spread development.  
4  TRADE POLICIES  
4.1.  The COVID -19 pandemic once again reminded how interdependent the global economic and 
trading structure is. Disruptions in global supply cha ins have become a major concern for all 
countries during this period.  
4.2.  Türkiye, while prioritizing to enhance its role in global supply chains with high value -added 
products, also continues to put emphasis on diversifying its trade partners and alleviate it s market 
and supply dependencies. As part of the endeavor to consolidate its position in global supply chains, 
Türkiye also aims to increase its market diversity in exports, by producing products that would meet 
the different needs of the vast variety of p roducers and consumers in every part of the world. In 
view of its export -oriented growth strategy, Türkiye deems it highly significant to safeguard the 
sustainability of its export performance, and Türkiye intends to ensure this by strengthening the 
compet itiveness of its products in the world trade. In this respect, Türkiye continues to adopt new 
policies for the purpose of strengthening its position in global economy. Its "Far Countries Strategy", 
which was launched in July 2022, constitutes the latest ex ample of such initiatives, which targets 
reaching out to new or under -exported markets while preserving existing advantages in the 
traditional markets.  
4.3.  Furthermore, considering the essential role of the SMEs in the economy, Türkiye implements 
policies to f acilitate SMEs ' integration into global supply chains through high value -added production. 
In Türkiye, SMEs make up 99% of all firms, generate around 41% of value added and account for 
almost three quarters of employment. In this context, KOSGEB (Small and  Medium Enterprises 
Development Organization of Türkiye) in its five -year strategic plan, covering 2019 -2023 period, 
aimed to spread high technology production among the SMEs, to expand entrepreneurship and 
institutionalization, to increase market awarenes s and encourage branding of products.  
4.4.  36.4% of total exports and 24% of imports for 2020 were carried out by SMEs in Türkiye. 
Categorizing the SMEs with regard to their main activity, 58.7% of the exports of SMEs were made 
by the enterprises operating in the commercial sector and 36.6% by the enterprises operating in the 
industrial sector.  
4.5.  Another priority policy area for Türkiye in trade is e -exports. As a tool to facilitate trading for 
e-exporters, the Ministry of Trade utilizes "Easy Export Platform", which provides intelligence to 
exporters on market opportunities and export processes. The platform provides alternative market 
options to the potential exporters via an AI enabled Smart Export Robot. Other main modules of the 
platform are Complementary Pr oduct module, Buyer's Information module and Training module as 
well as Smart Chatbot. The Platform was launched on August 2020 and more than 51,000  registered 
users have accessed it since then. It is expected that via e -commerce channels Turkish exporters  
directly reach their customers abroad, provide added value to exports with constantly innovative 
products and increase the awareness abroad on Turkish products and brands.  
4.6.  On the other hand, with the rapid increase in e -commerce activities in the aftermat h of the 
COVID -19 pandemic, to create a fair competition environment and prevent unfair trade practices 
against sellers on e -commerce platforms, the new Turkish e-commerce Law was formulated and was 
published in the Official Gazette on 1  July 2022.  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  4.7.  Türkiye , as a signatory of the Buenos Aires Declaration on Women and Trade, which is a 
breakthrough for women 's economic empowerment via trade, recognizes the value of adopting a 
gender responsive approach in planning and implementing trade policies. The Ministry  of Trade 
carried out an online survey in 2019 to determine the needs of potential women exporters and their 
expectations from the Ministry. The survey results revealed that 71% of women entrepreneurs had 
not involved in export process. The results display ed that women face challenges in accessing B2B 
networks and mentorship. They also have difficulties in acquiring the knowledge to engage in 
e-commerce, specifically in cross -border trade. In this context, the Ministry designed Women 
Entrepreneurs Network Program aiming at forming a robust B2B network amongst women 
entrepreneurs at the national level in all 81 provinces of Türkiye. In addition, t he Ministry 
implemented the Turkish Export Academy for Women -owned Small Businesses Program in late 2019, 
in cooperation with an international logistics firm UPS, which engages directly with customers. The 
initiative is designed to offer practical informat ion like how to export a product by using online 
platforms.  
4.8.  Another platform for empowering women in trade is the W2W -National Women Exporter 
Network Platform. It is an online platform created for integrating more women owned business into 
exports process  by developing corporate capacity and building network. The platform includes a 
mentorship module through which women entrepreneurs who have never exported or have just 
started exporting, and experienced women entrepreneurs can connect and become mentors a nd 
mentees. Thus, experienced women can transfer their knowledge and experience to women 
entrepreneurs.  
4.9.  In the formulation of its trade policy, including all these policies, Türkiye attaches great 
importance on the free, fair, predictable, non -discriminat ory, inclusive, equitable and rules -based 
multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its center. Besides, Customs Union between Türkiye 
and the EU continues to constitute a significant cornerstone in Türkiye's foreign trade policy, as well 
as its bilater al relations with trading partners.  
4.1  Multilateral Trade Policy  
4.10.  Multilateral trading system has always been at the center of Türkiye 's trade policies since 
Türkiye became a party to the GATT and founding member of the WTO in 1995. Türkiye believes 
that mult ilateral trade rules provide much -needed stability and predictability in international trade 
relations and that the WTO should serve as the protector body of these rules.  
4.11.  In the aftermath of the pandemic and with increasing global turmoil and resulting hi storic 
commodity inflation cycle, the effective functioning of the WTO has become more important than 
ever.  
4.12.  The current paralysis of the Appellate Body of WTO is inadmissible for Türkiye, and reforming 
the WTO is needed to make the organization more funct ional, effective and responsive to the 
problems of the 21st century.  
4.13.  The successful conclusion of the WTO 's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC  12), despite being 
under very pressured circumstances, demonstrated the willingness of the countries to continue the ir 
commitment to the rules based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. The partial 
conclusion of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement is a sign that to reach multilateral agreements is 
still possible, despite the need to improve the functionin g of the system.  
4.1.1   WTO Reform  
4.14.  MC 12 also showed us the determination of the members to work towards the necessary 
reform of the WTO.  
4.15.  It is agreed that the work on the WTO reform should improve all its functions based on 
openness, transparency and inclusiveness.  
4.16.  Türkiye 's priorities in the reform process are permanently restoring the two -tier functioning 
of the Dispute Settlement System; finding a mutually acceptable way to utilize the special and 
differential treatment principle without neglecting the rights given to the developing countries WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  through the WTO Agreements; updating WTO rule -book in certain fields such as agriculture, and 
also establishing new rules reflecting today's global conditions; and improving the effectiveness and 
efficiency of t he WTO bodies.  
4.1.2   WTO Dispute Settlement  
4.17.  Türkiye is an active participant of the Dispute Settlement Mechanism of the WTO. Since the 
final Trade Policy Review (TPR) of Türkiye in 2016, Türkiye has filed 5 disputes before the 
WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism.  
4.18.  Among the recent disputes which were filed by Türkiye, three disputes can specifically be 
referred to. The first dispute is the DS523 which was filed by Türkiye against the United  States 
concerning the implementation of countervailing measures on certain pi pe and tube products. This 
was the first dispute to address the issue of whether an investigating authority may, consistent with 
Article 1.1(a)(1) of the SCM Agreement, establish that an entity is a public body through establishing 
a "chain" of governmenta l control attributing the actions of that entity to the government. Despite 
the fact that Türkiye prevailed in this Dispute, on 25  January  2019, the United  States notified the 
DSB of its decision to appeal to the Appellate Body on certain issues of law and legal interpretations 
in the panel report. However, due to the inoperability of the Appeal Body, this Dispute could not be 
resolved by the Appellate Body.  
4.19.  The second dispute is the DS564 Dispute which was filed by Türkiye against the United States 
with regard to the additional duties imposed by the mentioned country on the steel and aluminum 
products. The Panel resolved this Dispute in favor of Türkiye and t he Final Panel Report was 
circulated to the WTO Members on 9  December  2022. The ruling of the Panel is based on the fact 
that the measures at issue were not taken in time of war or other emergency in international 
relations within the meaning of Article XX I(b)(iii) of the GATT 1994, therefore the inconsistencies of 
the measures at issue with certain provisions of the GATT 1994 were not justified. In the 
DS564 -Dispute, the Panel also decided that exemptions from the duties granted to steel and 
aluminum produ cts from certain countries were inconsistent with the requirement of 
most-favored -nation treatment under Article I:1 of the GATT 1994. Pursuant to decision of the Panel, 
Türkiye expects full compliance of the United States with the Panel Decision.  
4.20.  The thir d dispute which requires attention is the DS595 -Dispute which was resolved in favor 
of Türkiye as well by the WTO Panel. In this Dispute, the Panel concluded that the safeguard 
measures applied by the European Union on certain steel products were inconsist ent with Article 
XIX:1(a) of the GATT 1994, because the European Commission did not ascertain that the increase 
in imports took place as a result of the unforeseen developments it had identified, and did not identify 
in its published reports the obligation s whose effect resulted in the increase in imports. The Panel 
also ruled that these safeguard measures were also inconsistent with Article 4.1(b) of the Agreement 
on Safeguards, because two central elements of the European  Commission's determination of a 
threat of serious injury were not "based on facts" as required by that provision. The decision of the 
Panel was not appealed by the European Union and it was adopted by the Dispute Settlement Body 
(DSB) on 31  May 2022. Türkiye expects the abolishment of the  safeguard measures applied by the 
EU.  
4.21.  Despite the presence of some issues which are required to be resolved in order to attain a 
more efficient mechanism, in general, Türkiye was satisfied with the operation of the dispute 
settlement mechanism, till the end of 2019. However, the crisis prevailing at the Appellate Body of 
the World Trade Organization since December 2019 has disturbed the functioning of the entire 
WTO dispute settlement process. Türkiye attaches great importance to the well -functioning of t he 
Dispute Settlement Mechanism as it is designed by the WTO Agreements. Türkiye 's priority is to 
have the Appellate Body up and running again.  
4.1.3   JSIs under the WTO  
4.22.  Türkiye always prefers to have multilateral solutions and rule -making to cope with global 
challenges. However, when there are pressing issues, Türkiye sees inclusive plurilateral negotiations 
as a way forward for the discussion of these issues and for setting up further cooperation among the 
agreeing members. Therefore, we are actively participat ing in the Joint Statement Initiatives that 
are of importance to Türkiye.  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  4.1.3.1   Joint Statement Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation (JSI on SDR)  
4.23.  Türkiye supports initiatives aimed at liberalizing and disciplining services trade and believes 
that there is  untapped potential to be released by way of trade in services negotiations.  
4.24.  JSI SDR is extremely important not only as the first JSI to conclude but also because it delivers 
a tangible outcome on the 20 years of domestic regulation discussions under the WTO without 
precluding a multilateral agreement in line with the mandate contained under the GATS Article  6.4. 
4.25.  Internal ratification process of the Reference Paper is ongoing. Türkiye is prepared to finalize 
the internal ratification as soon as possible an d to initiate the Certification process together with its 
partners under the JSI SDR.  
4.1.3.2   Joint Statement Initiative on Investment Facilitation for Development (JSI on 
IFD)  
4.26.  Facilitation of investments have been an important strategy for Türkiye in its develop ment 
plan. Having benefited from the disciplines to facilitate investments internally, Türkiye has been an 
active participant of the JSI on IFD with several key propositions to improve the text.  
4.27.  Türkiye welcomes the initiative as it furthers the JSI SDR t o cover non -services investments 
as well as its stress on the development dimension.  
4.28.  Türkiye is committed to completion of the JSI on IFD negotiations as soon as possible with a 
view to improve transparency and streamlining of administrative procedures su rrounding 
investments.  
4.1.3.3   Joint Statement on Electronic Commerce (JSI on Ecom)  
4.29.  Türkiye highly values the JSI on Ecom given the fast -paced developments in the digital trade 
and the transformation of the global trading relations.  
4.30.  Türkiye believes that electronic commerce needs to be regulated and disciplined at a global 
level to be able to both reaping the benefits and to tackle challenges. Türkiye recognizes the WTO 
as the right forum to address e -commerce related issues and as su ch Türkiye welcomes JSI on 
e-commerce.  
4.31.  Türkiye is an active participant of the Initiative and is committed to delivering a rulebook fit 
for ecommerce which is balanced in terms of expectations of the business, the consumer and the 
governments.  
4.1.3.4   Other Init iatives  
4.32.  Climate and more generally environmental sustainability policies that countries implement 
within their own national conditions form part of the global efforts to achieve climate goals. Trade is 
becoming an important component in combatting climate change and protecting the environment.  
4.33.  Sustainable development and protection of environment have always been integral part of 
the goals of the WTO, as stated in the Agreement Establishing the WTO, as complimenting features 
of the goal to eliminate barrier s on trade and ensure non -discrimination. A lot of work has been 
conducted under the WTO up -until now to fulfill this goal.  
4.34.  Türkiye included environmental sustainability in its 11th Development Plan encompassing the 
years between 2019 -2023, thus, launched  a "Green Development Revolution". Türkiye ratified the 
Paris Agreement in 2021 and set its net zero emission target as 2053. Accordingly, Türkiye renewed 
its nationally determined contribution (NDC) at COP27 in November  2022.  
4.35.  In order to draw the legal framework of all these efforts, Türkiye started to work on its Climate 
Law including a carbon pricing mechanism. In addition, Türkiye prepared the Green Deal Action Plan, 
to support green transformation designed in alignment with the European Green D eal. WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  4.36.  Türkiye also very closely follows and contributes to the discussions on climate policy and trade 
at the WTO. Within this framework, besides in the relevant WTO Committees, Türkiye actively 
participates and contributes to the discussions within the sco pe of Trade and Environmental 
Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD). Trade aspects of explicit and implicit carbon pricing, 
determining internationally accepted carbon standards and methodologies for the measurement of 
embedded emissions of traded goods, other non -price climate measures, working on a common 
understanding in identifying Environmental Goods and Services, trade and circular economy, and 
assessing potential environmental impact of subsidies are major areas the discussions are focusing. 
Challenges for developing countries and also for the MSMEs are an essential component of these 
discussions.  
4.37.  In these discussions, it is particularly important for Türkiye that countries ' different 
circumstances are taken into consideration and rules and pr inciples of the international 
environmental agreements as well as the WTO are respected in determining environmental policies 
that have trade effect.  
4.38.  Türkiye also values the results achieved in MSMEs and Women 's Economic Empowerment 
Working Groups.  
4.39.  Consi dering the MSMEs ' important role in growth and employment, Türkiye is a party to the 
MSMEs Working Group and supports its efforts in increasing and facilitating their participation in 
international trade towards enabling WTO rules.  
4.40.  Türkiye is also party t o Women 's Economic Empowerment Working Group, and supports its 
efforts in strengthening women 's role in international trade. Türkiye 's Women Entrepreneurs 
Network and Export Academy Program have been referred as best practices in the 2020 ITC report 
titled "Delivering on the Buenos Aires Declaration on Trade and Women 's Economic Environment".5  
4.2  Regional Initiatives  
4.41.  In a way strengthening its role in the multilateral trading system, Türkiye has been in pursuit 
of an active agenda in the regional organizatio ns many of which indeed were established thanks to 
its leading efforts.  
4.42.  Being a founder of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Developing -8 (D-8) and Black 
Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), Türkiye is taking an active role in  promoting economic, tech nical 
and cultural cooperation with its regional partners.  
4.43.  Türkiye 's strong engagement in regional organizations/arrangements has yielded a number 
of solid achievements so far in the area of trade liberalization, setting the ground for deeper 
cooperation w ith respective member states in the years to come.  
4.44.  ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA), which came into force in April 2008, aims to reduce tariffs to 
a maximum of 15% for 80% of goods traded among member states whereas the D -8 Preferential 
Trade Agreement (D -8 PTA), which is in force as of August 2011, aims at gradual tariff liberalization 
and an immediate elimination of para -tariffs and non -tariff barriers in accordance with the modalities 
agreed upon.  
4.45.  In addition to ECOTA and D -8 PTA, Türkiye, as being one of the thirteen members6 of the 
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that have completed, signed and ratified the legal 
instruments7 and submitted the list of tariff concessions, started to implement the Trade Preferential 
System of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (TPS -OIC) as of 1  July 2022.  
 
5 Viewed at: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/womenandtrade_e/tig_rpt_dec20_e.pdf . 
6 Bahrain, Bangladesh, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi  Arabia, 
Türkiye and UAE.  
7 Viewed  at: https://www.comcec.org/trade/tps -oic/trade -preferential -system -among -the-member -
states -of-the-oic/. 
 WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  4.3  Türkiye – EU Relations  
4.46.  Türkiye has linked partnership relation with the EU based on t he Association Agreement 
(Ankara Agreement) since 1964 and the Customs Union was established in 1995 between the 
Parties. The European  Council granted the status of candidate country to Türkiye in December  1999 
and accession negotiations were opened in Oct ober 2005.  
4.47.  As of September  2022, 16 chapters have been opened to negotiations, one of which was 
provisionally closed. EU membership is a strategic objective for Türkiye. Türkiye is committed to the 
EU accession process and to the reform agenda it entails.  In this respect, Türkiye adopted the 
"EU Strategy" to accelerate the accession process on 18  September  2014. Lately, Türkiye updated 
its National Action Plan for the EU Accession (NAP), which is one of the three main pillars of the 
EU Strategy (political reform and communication strategy are the other two pillars), to cover the 
years 2021 -2023.  
4.48.  The Customs Union has strengthened the traditionally and historically intensive trade relations 
between Türkiye and the EU. Turkish exports to the EU increased from  USD 10.6 billion in 1995 to 
USD 93 billion in 2021. During the same period, Turkish imports from the EU increased from 
USD 15.9 billion to US D 85.4 billion.  
4.49.  In 2021, the EU accounted for 41.3% of total exports and 31.5% of total imports of Türkiye. 
Similarly, Türkiye is an important trade partner of the EU. The foreign trade statistics of the EU for 
the year 2021 demonstrate that Türkiye ranks sixth at both imports and exports of the EU with 
shares of 3.7% and 3.6% respectively.  
4.50.  The product composition of  the exports transformed parallel to changing production structure 
due to the improved competition conditions and market access advantages gained from the Customs 
Union. Apart from the traditional sectors like textile and clothing or iron and steel, certai n high 
value -added sectors such as electronics, machinery and automotive increased both their shares in 
total exports and improved their competitiveness in the EU and the world market. In that respect, 
between 1995 and 2021, the share of agriculture sector  in Turkish exports to the EU decreased from 
15.4% to 7% and the share of textile and clothing sector decreased from 42.1% to 19.2%. However, 
the share of automotive sector increased from 2.5% to 17.4%, the share of machinery increased 
from 2.7% to 10% and  the share of electronics sector increased from 4.5% to 5.5%.  
4.51.  Despite all, there occurred a need to revise and update the Customs Union.  
4.52.  On this issue, upon the initiative of the Commission, the World Bank prepared a Report on 
the 'Evaluation of the Custo ms Union ', which was published in March 2014. The report confirms the 
existing asymmetries within the Customs Union and suggests the elimination of the existing systemic 
problems by extension of the Customs Union to new areas such as agriculture, services and public 
procurement.  
4.53.  During the high -level consultations in 2014, Türkiye agreed with the EU Commission to 
negotiate for updating the Customs Union. In this context, the report which forms the main 
framework for the negotiations, was endorsed in May 201 5 by the parties. Based on this background, 
on 21  December  2016, the Commission applied to the Council for a mandate to initiate formal 
negotiations for the update of the Customs Union. In its conclusions of 1 -2 October  2020, 
25 March  2021 and 25 June 2021  the European Council has reiterated the need to launch a positive 
political EU -Türkiye agenda with a specific emphasis on the modernization of the Customs Union and 
trade facilitation. However, as of 2022, the mandate has not yet been given to the Commiss ion by 
the Council.  
4.3.1   Preferential Trade Agreements  
4.54.  Currently, Türkiye has 22 FTAs in force; namely, EFTA, Israel, Macedonia, 
Bosnia -Herzegovina, Palestine, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Albania, Georgia, Montenegro, Serbia, 
Chile, Mauritius, South Korea, Malaysia, Moldova, Faroe Islands, Singapore, Kosovo, Venezuela and 
the United Kingdom. Ukraine, Lebanon, Sudan and Qatar FTAs will enter i nto force following the 
completion of their internal approval process.  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  4.55.  In addition, Türkiye has two Preferential Trade Agreements (PTA) with two countries (Iran 
and Azerbaijan) in effect, and PTA negotiations with Uzbekistan are concluded and the Agreement  
was signed on 29 March 2022 and is now under ratification process. PTA negotiations with Pakistan 
are also concluded and the Agreement was signed on 12  August  2022 and is now under ratification 
process.  
4.3.1.1   New Free Trade Agreements   
4.3.1.1.1   Türkiye – United Kingdom FTA  
4.56.  Upon Brexit, Türkiye -UK FTA was signed on 29 December 2020 and it entered into force on 
1 January  2021. Under this FTA, which is a continuity Agreement, customs duties on industrial goods 
remained zero, concessions on agricultural and processe d agricultural products were scaled and 
reflected to the FTA. The Agreement sets the basic rules and disciplines to be applied to trade in 
goods within 13 chapters, including intellectual property, technical barriers to trade, trade remedies, 
sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and competition policy chapters. Therefore, with the FTA, the 
negative effects of Brexit on Türkiye -UK commercial relations were prevented.  
4.57.  There is also a review clause in the FTA, according to which, no later than two years after the 
date of the entry into force, the Parties are expected to commence a review of the FTA with a view 
to replacing, modernizing or expanding it. Parallel to that the issues related to the operation of the 
FTA were discussed and it was decided to establish  working groups and start working for the review 
process.  
4.3.1.1.2   Türkiye -Venezuela FTA  
4.58.  Trade Development Agreement between two countries entered into force on 21  August  2020. 
The Agreement contains provisions on removal of tariff and non -tariff barriers to trade  in goods, 
rules of origin, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, trade policy 
measures, settlement of disputes, intellectual property rights, and institutional provisions.  
4.3.1.1.3   Türkiye -Moldova FTA  
4.59.  The FTA with Moldova was signed on  11 September 2014 and entered into force on 
1 November  2016. Within the scope of this FTA, all customs duties on industrial products were 
abolished. In addition to that, concessions were granted for a limited number of agricultural 
products. There are als o provisions on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical regulations, 
intellectual property rights, government procurement and dispute settlement.  
4.3.1.1.4   FTAs under Ratification Process  
4.60.  FTAs that were concluded after the last review, but still are under rat ification process are as 
follows:  
4.61.  Türkiye -Sudan FTA which only covers trade in goods was signed on 24  December  2017.  
4.62.  Türkiye -Qatar FTA which covers both trade in goods and services was signed on 
26 November  2018.  
4.63.  The comprehensive Free Trade Agreement betw een Türkiye and Ukraine, including chapters 
on trade in goods and services was signed on 3  February  2022.  
4.64.  Preferential Trade Agreements with Uzbekistan and Pakistan were signed on 29  March  2022 
and 12  August  2022 respectively.  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  4.3.1.2   Modernization of Existing Free Trade Agreements  
4.3.1.2.1   EFTA Free Trade Agreement  
4.65.  The Türkiye -EFTA FTA, which entered into force on 1  April 1992, establishes a preferential 
trade regime between Türkiye and EFTA States regarding industrial goods, fisheries, processed 
agricultural  products and basic agricultural products. Modernized version of the FTA was signed on 
25 June 2018 and entered into force on 1  October  2021.  
4.66.  With the update of the FTA, chapters on services trade, trade and sustainable development 
and trade facilitation are included and the provisions on intellectual property rights and dispute 
settlement are expanded in the FTA. Market access concessions regarding processed agricultural 
products between Türkiye and Switzerland are also updated. Parallel to the FTA, the A greement 
which updates the market access concessions on basic agricultural products between Türkiye and 
Switzerland was signed on 25 June 2018 and entered into force simultaneously on 1  October  2021.  
4.3.1.2.2   Bosnia and Herzegovina Free Trade Agreement  
4.67.  The Türkiye -Bosnia and Herzegovina FTA, which entered into force on 1  July 2003, establishes 
a preferential trade regime between Türkiye and Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding trade in goods. 
Modernized version of the FTA was signed on 2  May 2019 and entered into force  on 1 August  2021. 
With the update of the FTA, chapters on services trade and government procurement are added and 
the provisions on dispute settlement are also expanded in the FTA.  
4.3.1.2.3   Serbia Free Trade Agreement  
4.68.  Protocols expanding the scope of the Agreeme nt to include additional agricultural concessions 
and services trade were signed in Ankara on January 30, 2018 and entered into force as of June 1, 
2019.  
4.3.1.2.4   Montenegro Free Trade Agreement  
4.69.  The revised Protocol I (which covers liberalization of agricultural p roducts) to the RTA between 
Türkiye and Montenegro and a new Protocol III (related to trade in services) entered into force on 
1 July 2022. With the revised Protocol I, concessions on agricultural and processed agricultural 
products are expanded. Also, wit h the Protocol III provisions on telecommunication services, 
e-commerce, financial services, films and TV series, and temporary presence of real persons for 
business purposes are included in the FTA.  
4.3.1.2.5   Georgia Free Trade Agreement  
4.70.  The Türkiye -Georgia FTA entered into force in 2008. With the FTA, all customs duties on 
industrial goods were abolished. In order to extend to the scope of the FTA, a Joint Committee 
Decision on reciprocal agricultural concessions and a new Protocol III on tra de in services were 
signed in 9  September  2022. With the Decision, concessions on agricultural and processed 
agricultural products are expanded. With the Protocol III, provisions related to financial services, 
free movement of persons, telecommunication, e -commerce, transportation, postal and cargo 
services are added to the FTA. Internal ratification processes for entry into force of the Decision and 
the Protocol III are ongoing.  
4.3.1.2.6   Malaysia Free Trade Agreement  
4.71.  The Türkiye -Malaysia FTA, which entered into for ce on 1 August 2015, establishes a 
preferential trade regime between Türkiye and Malaysia regarding trade in goods. First Protocol to 
Amend the Free Trade Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Türkiye and the 
Government of Malaysia, which ext ended the scope of the FTA to include Trade in Services, 
Movement of Business Persons, -Commerce and Investment Chapters and their respective Annexes, 
was signed on 29  September  2022 in Ankara. The internal approval procedure of the First Protocol 
is ongoi ng for both countries as of 21  December  2022.  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  4.3.1.3   Free Trade Agreements under Negotiation  
4.72.  There are 14 countries/country blocs that Türkiye has started FTA negotiations. Türkiye has 
been actively engaged in negotiations with 4 of them; namely Japan, Thailand,  Indonesia, and U.A.E. 
In addition to that Türkiye continues its efforts to speed up the FTA negotiations with Mexico, Peru, 
Colombia, MERCOSUR, Ecuador, Somalia, Cameroon, Gulf Cooperation Council, Seychelles and 
Djibouti.  
4.73.  Additionally,  PTA negotiations with Mauritania continue.  
4.3.2   Türkiye 's Green Transition  
4.74.  Cognizant of the significance of climate change, Türkiye has accelerated its efforts in green 
transformation in the past few years.  
4.75.  Türkiye launched "Green Development Revolution" and r atified the Paris Agreement on 
6 October  2021, setting the target of net zero emission by 2053.  
4.76.  Türkiye declared its renewed nationally determined contribution (NDC) at COP27 in 2022. 
According to the new NDC, the previously set emissions reduction target  of 21% has been changed 
to 41% from business as usual by 2030.  
4.77.  Moreover, the First Climate Council was held in February  2022 by Ministry of Environment, 
Urbanization and Climate Change with broad participation of representatives.  
4.78.  With this meeting, roadma ps for energy, transportation and industry, agriculture, waste, 
buildings and forestry, green finance, carbon pricing, adaptation to climate change, role of local 
administrations, migration, just transition and social policies, education and awareness, sci ence and 
technology, biodiversity, clean and circular economy, clean and secure energy, sustainable 
agriculture, sustainable transport and horizontal sectors.  
4.79.  Considering Türkiye 's deep integration with the EU as a result of the Customs Union, every 
EU le gislative action related to trade have significant impact on Türkiye 's international trade. 
Therefore, policy coherence with the EU is particularly important for Türkiye.  
4.80.  As with all EU legislations, Türkiye has been closely following the developments on the 
European Green Deal from the outset. In this respect, Türkiye 's priority is to ensure that the new 
measures introduced by the EU Green Deal such as carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) 
and policies under the circular economy action plan do not run  contrary to the requirements related 
to the Customs Union and other international commitments of both sides.  
4.81.  For this purpose, Türkiye maintains close cooperation and dialogue with the 
European  Commission to align its trade policies in this regard with th e EU and to promote the green 
transformation of the European and Turkish economies in line with mutual development goals.  
4.82.  As part of Türkiye 's efforts of adaptation and mitigation to climate change and green 
transformation, Türkiye 's Green Deal Action Pla n was made public on 16  July 2021. With 81  actions 
and 32  objectives under 9  priority headings8, Türkiye 's Green Deal Action Plan has become a part of 
Türkiye 's Green Development Revolution.  
4.83.  Ministry of Trade is at the core of the work under the Action P lan and coordinating the "Green 
Deal Working Groups" meetings on every technical/sectoral topic such as CBAM, national carbon 
pricing, national circular economy, clean energy and green finance as well as specific sectors such 
as aluminum, cement, steel, te xtile and construction.  
4.84.  In order to draw the legal framework of all these efforts, we started to work on our Climate 
Law with a Climate Council including representatives from the public, private sector, academia and 
 
8 Carbon Border Adjustments, Green and Circular Economy, Green Financing, Clean Economic and Secure 
Energy Supply, Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Smart Mobility, Combating Climate Change, Diplomacy, 
European Green Deal Information and Awareness -raising Activities.  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  finance. This framework will include a carbon pricing mechanism with a focus on establishing an ETS 
in Türkiye.  
4.85.  Works on concluding our National Green Taxonomy, National Circular Economy action plan 
and developing a National Climate Finance Strategy are also going on.  
4.86.  The 11th Development Plan encompassing the years between 2019 -2023 already had the 
green transformation objective while the next development plan that is being prepared for the years 
2024-2028 will fully encompass our green development revolution.  
4.4  Trade Facilitati on  
4.87.  With the goal of becoming a trade centre that is easy to do business with, Türkiye is a strong 
supporter of the trade facilitation agenda. As an effective instrument to reduce time and cost to 
trade as well as to cut the red tape at the border, trade f acilitation is foreseen as a key in terms of 
economic growth and the competitiveness of the country. Wide -range of trade facilitation efforts 
being applied, enabled Türkiye to show better performance in international indexes, as was shown 
by the World Bank  Doing Business Index where Türkiye was listed in the 33th place, in 2020, moving 
up from the 62nd place in 2016.  
4.88.  Since its entry into force, Türkiye is devoted to the WTO trade facilitation agenda and is a 
strong supporter of the implementation of the WTO  Trade Facilitation Agreement. With the 
two notifications made in 16  July 2014 (WT/PCTF/N/TUR/1) and 15  March  2018 (G/TFA/N/TUR/1) 
respectively, Türkiye has notified all provisions of the Section II of the TFA in Category A.  
4.89.  Coordination Committee on Trad e Facilitation being established, by the Prime Ministry 's 
Circular No. 2016/27 with its original 18 public and private sector members, which then re -organized 
its structure with the Presidency Circular No. 2019/6 lies at the heart of Türkiye 's trade facili tation 
efforts at home. While allowing comprehensive implementation of the WTO TFA provisions and other 
international regulations towards simplification of border procedures, Coordination Committee on 
Trade Facilitation acts as an efficient forum for gathe ring all government agencies and private sector 
stakeholders and creating nation -wide solutions to local problems arising in the field. Committee 
grants two -level of benefits for Türkiye within trade facilitation measures. While  at the technical 
level, rel evant experts from every part of international supply chain work on deficient areas related 
to border procedures and create solutions for these bottlenecks, at the political level it ensures 
implementation of these solutions with the help of National Trade  Facilitation Strategy of Türkiye.  
4.90.  At the center of simplification of customs procedures efforts of Türkiye lies Authorized 
Economic Operator (AEO) system. Established in 2013, system includes several simplifications within 
the context of import and export  procedures, ranging from authorized consignor to priority clearance 
and local clearance within premises of companies. AEO certification is open to manufacturers, 
importers, exports, freight forwarders and transporters which comply with customs compliance,  
safety -security, financial solvency and reliability and management of commercial records criterion. 
As of October  2022, 645 operators have AEO certificates, enjoying facilitation measures deployed 
by customs administration.  
4.91.  Besides, since its last review, Türkiye has implemented electronic and digital solutions within 
its border procedures. In 2019, "Digital Customs in Export" project has been initiated in order to 
fully automate all export procedures in customs and dematerialize documents used in t hese 
procedures. To date, 171 documents have been transferred to electronic environment, which allows 
operators to electronically submit and sign their documents through web services of customs 
administration.  
4.92.  In relation to digital applications, in 2013, all authorization and coordination procedures 
regarding Single Window System has been given to Turkish customs. From that date, a total of 
22 government and non -governmental institutions authorized for issuance of import and export 
licenses integrated into  system. Operators can apply, submit data and receive 170 documents used 
in foreign trade through electronic channels.  
4.93.  For achieving a faster release of goods, in 2019, Türkiye has initiated a "Pre -arrival 
Processing" scheme for providing a way to submit d ata for import before arrival of goods to be WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  processed. This way, a preliminary risk analysis can be done for goods arriving through air or sea 
and enable rapid goods cleared through customs rapidly.  
4.94.  Türkiye strengthens its digital infrastructure to meet t he needs of the modern age, and is 
developing multi -layered customs applications, such as the BİLGE System, in a more user -friendly 
manner. With the BİLGE Customs Platform, all stakeholders are able to make a declaration on a 
single electronic access point  and the declaration processes are shortened significantly. On the other 
hand, Türkiye continues to work on transitioning to the updated version of its Common Transit 
System, which is integrated end -to-end with 36 countries, including European countries. T he project 
aims to create a temporary storage place for records of goods arriving by air and sea. A pilot 
application was carried out on the sea route, and analysis, on -site inspection and design studies 
were completed for digitalization of airline transac tions. The study will continue in 2023 for 
transferring all processes related to goods transported by air to electronic environment.  
4.95.  In line with bilateral and regional relations, Türkiye is pursuing a trade facilitation agenda with 
its trading partners f or lowering release times and costs, increasing trade volume and establishing 
efficient coordination mechanisms. In ECO, BSEC, D -8 and Organization of Turkic States  (OTS), with 
the initiative of Türkiye, Regional Trade Facilitation Strategy talks are still  continuing. Also, within 
context of bilateral trade, Türkiye tries to establish bodies for joint meetings for National Trade 
Facilitation Committees for solving bottlenecks together with trading partners.  
4.5  Türkiye in Other Multilateral Fora  
4.5.1   The Group of T wenty (G20)  
4.96.  With its weight in global economy, G20 provides an important platform to act together and 
adopt integrated, coordinated and effective policies to meet the global challenges that need global 
actions. G20 provides an invaluable forum for discussi ons and bringing critical actors together in 
times of crisis as well.  
4.97.  Under G20 trade agenda, members have the opportunity to discuss substantial matters that 
concern all countries and try to find a way forward, such as the WTO reform, participation and 
resilience of global value and supply chains, the role of the MSMEs, sustainable development, 
environment, and food security.  
4.98.  Türkiye attaches importance to G20 as a forum bringing together advanced and emerging 
economies. Therefore, it actively supports to  further develop G20 agenda. Supporting multilateral 
system, inclusiveness and equality, sustainable growth, and ensuring MSMEs participation in 
economic activities are major concerns for Türkiye in the overall trade and investment agenda of 
the G20.  
4.5.2   MIKTA  
4.99.  As a cross -regional consultative platform bringing together countries from diverse cultures 
and regions, to which they are strongly linked, MIKTA offers a valuable opportunity to build up 
dialogue for trade and economic cooperation among Mexico, Indonesia , Republic of Korea, Australia 
and Türkiye.  
4.100.   Since the  creation of the Group in 2013, MIKTA countries have established among 
themselves an exemplary model of collaboration and consultation to play a constructive role in the 
international agenda and together  they have made active contributors to major international fora. 
This, in return, has enabled them to exert greater influence in global governance and further their 
bilateral ties, including trade and economic relations with each other.  
4.101.   Assuming the MIKTA  Chairmanship for 2022, hence coordinating its activities with a special 
emphasis on the current global challenges including health, environment, food security and 
migration Türkiye aims to maintain the momentum of collaboration and solidarity in MIKTA and  to 
explore further possibilities for deepening cooperation on trade and economic issues in the period 
ahead.  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
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  5  FUTURE ECONOMIC AND TRADE POLICY GOALS  
5.1.  Although, Turkish economy –together with global economy - has had hard times in the last 
couple of years, T ürkiye still sticks to its growth targets for 2023 , the centenary of the  foundation 
of the Republic, and beyond.  
5.2.  Achieving its 2023 targets requires Türkiye to transform its export composition from low -tech 
to high -tech products, to diversify its target markets and sectors for exports, and to pursue a 
pro-active policy both in goods and services exports. In the same vein, as the transformation of 
trade has been under way for some time, Türkiye needs to better locate itself in international 
fragment ation of production in global value chains. Despite the considerable progress achieved in 
the last two decades,  additional steps including those related to wider trade and economic 
environment are needed to be taken so that Türkiye, as a country perfectly located at the heart of 
multiple supply chains, could gain greater visibility in the global value chains. Further continuation 
of domestic reforms  is believed to be lifting competitiveness  in a way helping Türkiye to move up in 
the global supply chains.  
5.3.  Besides; Türkiye is now focusing on boosting its trade with distant countries as well as working 
to remove all the obstacles its economic operators have been facing in those markets. In order for 
Türkiye to realize this target, the guiding strategy document , "Far Countries Strategy" has been 
implemented. Thanks to this strategy, among other benefits for increasing economic and commercial 
cooperation of Turkish business circles with their counterparts in far countries, the average distance 
of Türkiye 's export s, which stands at 3,065 km currently, is set to be increased to the world average 
at 4,744 km, and the market share of Turkish exports is set to be increased to at least 1%, which 
is Türkiye 's share in the world exports.  
5.4.  Last but not the least, trade lib eralization at all fronts, with its potential to deliver new trading 
opportunities, will be carrying Türkiye forward towards accomplishing its 2023 Vision. In this respect, 
with the outbreak of the COVID -19 pandemic, Türkiye observed the needs and requirem ents of the 
manufacturers and exporters, and introduced high -tech solutions to assist their quest of finding 
alternative markets. The "Easy Export Platform," for example, is an AI -based system offering 
potential exporters up to 15 recommendations. The syst em takes into consideration features like 
customs duties, non -tariff measures and rules of origin; and benefits from data and information of 
16 different databases, and provides tailor made market and product recommendations for free to 
Turkish citizens an d companies.   
5.5.  At the centenary of the Republic, when this trade review exercise is being conducted out, 
beyond the objectives of developing the foreign trade of the country for increasing the welfare of its 
population, Türkiye remains committed to the glob al Sustainable Development Goals for a fair 
distribution of the world resources, leaving no one behind, to reach common prosperity and peace 
at the world. For this purpose, Türkiye sees the rules -based multilateral trading system as a central 
and common go od of the international system, that needs to be kept fully functional and to be 
further strengthened. Within this perspective, Türkiye remains available to work actively with all its 
partners towards achieving these objectives.  
6  APPENDIX TABLES  
Table 1 E xports by Countries and Regions (General Trade System)  
(USD '000)  
 2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Total  149.246.999  164.494.619  177.168.756  180.832.722  169.637.755  225.214.458  
A-EU 
COUNTRIES 
(27) 59.981.416  67.987.332  77.429.205  76.726.198  70.019.688  93.052.537  
TURKİYE        
B-OTHER 
COUNTRIES  89.265.583  96.507.288  99.739.551  104.106.524  99.618.068  132.161.921  
1-Other 
European 
Countries  22.055.816  20.229.606  23.921.002  24.445.348  24.406.435  31.465.045  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
- 26 - 
 
   2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
2-North 
African 
Countries  8.069.446  7.918.462  9.915.077  10.828.878  9.224.060  13.336.357  
3-Other 
African 
Countries  3.833.943  4.318.839  5.173.872  5.794.323  6.016.613  7.875.566  
4-North 
American 
Countries  8.092.611  10.359.398  10.411.462  9.956.682  11.188.515  16.407.568  
5-Central 
America and 
Caribbean  957.812  1.272.574  1.648.509  1.766.889  1.452.892  2.443.192  
6-South 
America 
Countries  1.127.996  1.349.588  1.872.836  1.833.081  1.928.598  3.592.875  
7-Near and 
Middle 
Eastern  33.869.634  38.221.058  32.402.888  35.009.090  31.333.151  38.354.547  
8-Other 
Asian 
Countries  10.272.156  11.924.636  13.302.023  13.399.488  12.775.610  17.233.730  
9-Australia 
and New 
Zealand  766.460  674.047  825.020  782.359  837.289  1.127.649  
 10-Other 
Countries  219.710  239.081  266.863  290.386  454.904  325.394  
C- Selected 
country 
groups        
OECD 
Countries  83.111.580  88.997.882  101.311.004  99.581.207  95.055.097  125.880.141  
EFTA 
Countries  3.336.916  1.689.568  2.332.242  1.794.638  1.847.595  2.225.501  
Organization 
of Black Sea 
Economic 
Co- peration  13.800.648  16.580.157  19.390.352  20.446.305  20.301.135  27.699.352  
Organization 
for Economic 
Co-operation  10.504.662  9.121.916  8.034.493  8.707.799  8.684.248  11.267.261  
New 
Independent 
States  5.593.792  7.204.981  8.502.347  9.557.843  10.261.584  13.625.495  
Turkish 
Republics  4.358.110  4.540.394  4.417.965  5.107.351  5.429.515  7.206.443  
Organization 
of Islamic 
Conference  44.347.122  48.627.009  44.841.257  48.767.654  43.736.501  56.662.800  
 
Table 2 Exports by Sectors (General Trade System)  
(USD '000)  
 2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Total  149.246.999  164.494.619  177.168.756  180.832.722  169.637.755  225.214.458  
1- Agricultural 
products  18.498.032  19.093.504  19.864.052  20.279.496  21.241.183  25.901.378  
i- Food 17.736.042  18.360.991  18.961.758  19.364.473  20.327.845  24.499.264  
(0) Food and live 
animals  15.063.171  15.794.323  16.309.888  16.801.450  17.460.540  20.956.952  
(00) Live 
animals  27.914  34.673  57.966  84.612  83.406  106.121  
(04) Cereals 
and cereal 
preparations  3.121.110  3.220.960  3.303.486  3.399.475  3.397.575  3.836.753  
(05) Fruits and 
vegetables  7.557.856  7.664.626  7.616.815  8.008.731  8.679.229  9.886.783  
(06) Sugar, 
sugar preparations 
and honey  561.599  645.434  658.036  667.997  698.486  1.026.530  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
- 27 - 
 
   2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
(08) Feeding 
stuff for animals  259.721  343.257  422.066  419.634  421.432  702.444  
(01, 02, 03, 
07, 09) Others  3.534.971  3.885.373  4.251.518  4.221.002  4.180.412  5.398.320  
(1) Beverages and 
tobacco  1.309.039  1.272.254  1.374.969  1.262.552  1.234.896  1.216.433  
(11) 
Beverages  293.266  319.865  361.857  352.759  325.682  434.754  
(12) Tobacco 
and tobacco 
manufactures  1.015.773  952.389  1.013.112  909.793  909.214  781.679  
(4) Animal and 
vegetable oils, fats 
and waxes  940.618  954.692  922.346  895.813  1.287.661  1.875.176  
(22) Oil seeds and 
oleaginous fruits  423.214  339.723  354.555  404.658  344.747  450.704  
ii-Agricultural raw 
materials  761.990  732.513  902.294  915.023  913.338  1.402.114  
(21) Hides, 
skins and furskins, 
raw 5.605  4.105  4.129  4.604  2.587  7.367  
(23) Crude 
rubber (including 
synthetic, 
reclaimed)  36.379  47.534  51.310  48.077  69.537  83.065  
(24) Cork and 
wood  22.036  26.724  36.551  65.003  75.273  128.631  
(25) Pulp and 
waste paper  24.084  22.026  32.591  57.850  60.712  78.347  
(26) Textile 
fibres (other than 
wool tops) and their 
wastes  471.921  423.969  530.356  464.122  410.098  719.690  
(29) Crude 
animal and 
vegetable materials, 
n.e.s.  201.964  208.155  247.357  275.367  295.131  385.014  
2-Mining products  8.337.429  10.976.753  12.741.243  14.853.876  11.407.063  19.471.361  
i-(27, 28) 
Metalliferous ores 
and metal scrap  2.848.258  3.772.746  3.793.933  3.447.653  3.382.817  4.808.350  
ii-Minerals fuels, 
lubricants and 
related materials (3)  3.190.048  4.529.729  5.532.449  8.126.918  4.567.836  8.310.417  
(32) Coal, 
coke and briquettes  3.751  7.017  16.989  5.707  8.479  21.007  
(33) 
Petroleum, 
petroleum products 
and related 
materials  3.092.032  4.308.101  5.300.164  7.913.842  4.369.590  7.813.076  
(34) Gas, 
natural and 
manufactured  80.676  132.734  115.675  102.945  107.963  227.980  
(35) Electric 
current  13.589  81.877  99.621  104.425  81.804  248.355  
ii-Non-ferrous 
metals (68)  2.299.123  2.674.278  3.414.861  3.279.305  3.456.410  6.352.594  
3-Manufactures  111.988.507  125.222.987  139.107.820  140.645.848  131.466.097  172.610.551  
i-Iron and steel 
(67) 7.252.840  9.539.433  13.158.510  11.505.690  10.113.905  18.940.649  
ii-Chemicals  8.381.310  8.951.790  10.631.558  11.392.690  12.527.216  16.107.110  
(57, 58) 
Plastics  3.400.498  3.651.221  4.264.441  4.357.255  4.430.204  6.704.611  
(54) 
Pharmaceutical 
products  984.144  1.032.508  1.334.906  1.458.316  1.853.005  1.923.874  
(51, 52, 53, 
55, 56, 59) Other 
chemicals  3.996.668  4.268.061  5.032.210  5.577.119  6.244.007  7.478.626  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
- 28 - 
 
   2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
iii-Other semi -
manufactures  14.050.686  15.325.835  17.121.047  18.132.631  17.967.538  23.232.471  
(61) Leather, 
leather 
manufactures, n.e.s. 
and dressed  263.969  293.156  301.430  304.890  203.920  322.761  
(62) Rubber 
manufactures, n.e.s.  2.231.710  2.512.741  2.828.179  2.851.057  2.524.916  3.283.652  
(63) Cork and 
wood manufactures 
(excluding furniture)  643.063  725.959  781.931  810.353  902.495  1.345.813  
(64) Paper, 
paperboard and 
articles of paper 
pulp, of paper  1.844.261  2.037.495  2.264.543  2.434.935  2.367.620  2.774.095  
(66) Non -
metallic mineral 
manufactures, n.e.s.  3.404.760  3.504.665  3.867.109  4.440.398  4.794.282  5.900.751  
(661) 
Lime, cement and 
fabricated 
construction  1.523.609  1.565.175  1.702.610  1.978.573  2.339.158  2.730.894  
(664, 665) 
Glass and glassware  913.555  877.570  927.102  1.060.724  1.007.197  1.274.717  
(66- 
(661+664+665)) 
Others  967.596  1.061.921  1.237.396  1.401.101  1.447.927  1.895.140  
(69) 
Manufactures of 
metals, n.e.s.  5.662.922  6.251.819  7.077.856  7.290.997  7.174.305  9.605.399  
iv-Machinery and 
transport equipment  43.834.328  51.233.893  55.745.838  55.917.064  49.813.331  60.554.187  
(781, 782, 
783, 784, 7132, 
7783) Automotive 
products  20.195.956  24.613.585  27.162.176  26.204.525  21.576.723  24.122.320  
(75, 76, 776) 
Office machines and 
telecommunications  2.208.958  2.195.204  2.196.677  2.088.355  1.705.935  1.978.666  
(71-713) 
Power generating 
machinery  1.281.189  1.314.520  1.481.118  2.046.383  1.567.203  2.027.606  
(72, 73, 74) 
Other non -electrical 
machinery  7.351.822  8.420.925  10.050.286  10.773.943  10.472.177  13.293.523  
(79, 785, 786, 
7131, 7138, 7139) 
Other transport  4.224.936  5.642.431  4.955.973  5.045.175  4.725.486  6.425.515  
(77- 
(776+7783)) 
Electrical machinery 
and apparatus  8.571.467  9.047.230  9.899.608  9.758.683  9.765.807  12.706.557  
v- Textiles (65)  11.168.991  11.663.137  11.897.797  11.789.754  11.710.237  15.176.788  
vi- Clothing (84)  15.637.558  15.763.291  16.318.020  16.391.233  15.355.137  18.744.398  
(848.1, 848.3) 
Articles of apparels, 
clothing accessories 
& other  227.777  249.734  258.248  243.524  181.718  242.775  
(84- (848.1, 
848.3)) Other 
clothing apparels  15.409.781  15.513.557  16.059.773  16.147.709  15.173.419  18.501.623  
vii-Other 
consumer goods 
(81, 82, 83, 85, 87, 
88, 89 (-891))  11.662.794  12.745.609  14.235.050  15.516.786  13.978.733  19.854.948  
(81) 
Prefabricated 
buildings; sanitary, 
plumbing, heating 
and  1.416.548  1.554.852  1.723.552  1.685.873  1.694.882  2.186.895  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
- 29 - 
 
   2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
(82) Furniture, 
bedding, mattress 
supports and 
cushions  2.287.096  2.420.437  2.954.331  3.352.387  3.312.693  4.131.764  
(83) Travel 
goods, handbags 
and similar 
containers  139.940  156.515  196.212  213.618  158.740  254.313  
(85) Footwear  728.680  796.357  920.467  958.238  829.418  1.081.829  
(87) 
Professional, 
scientific and 
controlling 
instruments  744.946  863.905  934.088  1.061.042  1.245.864  1.256.051  
(88, 89 - 
(891)) Other 
manufactured 
articles  6.345.584  6.953.542  7.506.400  8.245.628  6.737.136  10.944.097  
4- Other products 
(9+891)  10.416.453  9.196.828  5.451.106  5.047.188  5.511.764  7.223.317  
 
Table 3 Imports by Country Groups (General Trade System)  
(USD '000)  
Country groups  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Total  202.189.242  238.715.128  231.152.483  210.345.203  219.516.807  271.425.553  
A-European Union 
(EU 27)  75.267.734  81.971.590  77.051.249  67.913.047  73.337.528  85.383.160  
B-Other countries  126.921.508  156.743.538  154.101.234  142.432.156  146.179.279  186.042.393  
1-Other European 
Countries  27.919.268  39.057.502  38.042.952  36.934.693  35.754.498  44.757.747  
2-North African 
Countries  3.252.568  4.203.460  4.685.547  4.009.992  4.757.326  5.417.703  
3-Other African 
Countries  2.151.987  2.978.629  2.451.876  1.810.756  2.552.458  2.814.891  
4-North American 
Countries  12.421.410  14.524.064  14.978.319  13.479.195  12.603.357  14.227.398  
5-Central America and 
Caraips  1.116.729  1.071.318  845.117  941.258  1.030.980  1.098.955  
6-South American 
Countries  4.374.393  6.319.495  8.162.498  5.574.634  5.997.999  7.771.653  
7-Near and Middle 
Eastern  14.236.600  20.465.558  18.923.721  16.088.786  20.275.717  16.125.835  
8-Other Asian 
Countries  54.012.227  57.619.977  53.875.139  47.340.718  49.030.863  68.242.145  
9-Australia and New 
Zealand  708.206  2.277.958  1.116.013  1.083.957  442.416  1.157.608  
10-Other Countries  6.728.119  8.225.578  11.020.053  15.168.167  13.733.664  24.428.458  
C-Selected country 
groups        
1-OECD Countries  106.426.195  123.324.645  115.052.413  100.295.859  108.318.120  120.833.412  
2- EFTA Countries  3.222.514  7.801.790  3.682.931  4.179.497  8.479.771  3.955.588  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
- 30 - 
 
  Country groups  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
3-Organization of the 
Blacksea Economic 
Cooperation  25.023.971  31.627.320  34.075.764  33.881.585  28.044.303  43.741.733  
4- Organization for 
Economic Cooperation  8.076.440  11.562.105  10.998.888  7.513.798  4.609.606  8.311.685  
5-Commonwealth of 
Independent States  18.222.582  23.597.413  26.288.573  26.777.749  20.991.494  34.042.205  
6-Turkish Republics  2.827.054  3.358.729  3.323.250  3.377.189  2.971.786  4.943.973  
7-Organization of 
Islamic Cooperation  23.762.739  32.673.009  29.916.584  26.221.792  30.992.576  30.548.776  
 
Table 4 Imports by Sectors (General Trade System)  
(USD '000)  
 Year 2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021   
Total  202.189.242  238.715.128  231.152.483  210.345.203  219.516.807  271.425.553  
  
      
0 Food and live 
animals  7.752.439  9.772.700  10.001.818  10.121.573  9.916.582  11.378.204  
0 Live animals other 
than animals of 
division 03  603.822  1.212.194  1.767.909  700.574  446.859  310.235  
1 Meat and meat 
preparations  100.808  159.597  325.609  89.384  75.989  78.726  
2 Dairy products and 
birds eggs  144.934  153.313  158.273  154.324  127.023  116.820  
3 Fish, crustaceans, 
molluscs and 
aquatic 
invertebrates, and 
preparations 
thereof  189.426  237.065  198.812  199.194  163.866  222.519  
4 Cereals and cereal 
preparations  1.591.428  2.177.630  2.480.873  3.680.506  3.458.953  4.480.635  
5 Fruits and 
vegetables  1.838.895  2.018.307  1.545.067  1.634.703  1.709.663  1.833.023  
6 Sugar, sugar 
preparations and 
honey  264.894  250.909  213.390  188.513  236.178  141.576  
7 Coffee, tea, cocoa, 
spices and 
manufactures 
thereof  941.200  1.109.665  963.098  1.091.823  1.205.851  1.300.345  
8 Feeding stuff for 
animals  1.430.785  1.741.335  1.600.770  1.705.017  1.768.073  2.047.528  
9 Miscellaneous edible 
products and 
preparations  646.248  712.686  748.017  677.535  724.127  846.799  
   
      
1 Beverages and 
tobacco  1.003.885  957.550  1.003.716  1.024.386  922.759  1.008.060  
11 Beverages  240.833  269.774  265.212  274.449  257.499  364.212  
12 Tobacco and 
tobacco 
manufactures  763.052  687.776  738.504  749.937  665.260  643.848  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
- 31 - 
 
   Year 2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
2 Crude materials, 
inedible, except 
fuels  11.936.583  15.769.715  16.938.373  15.027.897  15.571.378  24.456.197  
21 Hides, skins and 
furskins, raw  87.158  118.364  138.218  122.522  92.927  114.222  
22 Oil seeds and 
oleaginous fruits  1.687.274  1.753.761  1.796.538  1.944.103  2.203.555  2.393.628  
23 Crude rubber 
(including synthetic, 
reclaimed)  708.789  1.000.208  984.878  889.011  817.032  1.360.302  
24 Cork and wood  581.942  522.293  459.922  205.705  196.754  212.757  
25 Pulp and waste 
paper  736.046  946.241  1.081.061  997.960  935.874  1.231.399  
26 Textile fibres (other 
than wool tops) and 
their wastes  2.609.074  3.205.076  2.960.743  2.946.815  2.665.800  3.790.102  
27 Crude fertilizers and 
crude ores 
(excluding coal, 
petroleum and 
precious stones)  375.842  412.007  489.153  413.468  394.150  556.247  
28 Metalliferous ores 
and metal scrap  4.816.536  7.455.770  8.692.404  7.201.187  7.939.103  14.403.287  
29 Crude animal and 
vegetable 
materials, n.e.s  333.922  355.996  335.455  307.126  326.184  394.252  
   
      
3 Mineral fuels, 
lubricants and 
related materials  12.178.353  16.957.010  20.701.691  15.148.861  10.897.359  17.409.998  
32 Coal, coke and 
briquettes  2.749.186  4.341.596  4.657.434  3.725.284  2.885.717  4.600.888  
33 Petroleum, 
petroleum products 
and related 
materials  8.014.034  10.893.485  14.113.153  10.007.245  6.780.431  10.744.359  
34 Gas, natural and 
manufactured  1.201.518  1.636.428  1.874.073  1.375.726  1.175.639  2.010.742  
35 Electrical energy  213.614  85.501  57.031  40.606  55.572  54.009  
39 Confidential data        
   
      
4 Animal and 
vegetable oils, 
fats and waxes  1.641.746  1.466.674  1.168.549  1.191.409  1.592.526  2.440.559  
41 Animal oils and fats  76.955  79.341  99.827  97.068  101.815  101.953  
42 Fixed vegetable fats 
and oils, crude 
refined or 
fractionated  1.522.631  1.317.460  1.012.481  1.042.022  1.441.693  2.282.607  
43 Animal and 
vegetable fats and 
oils, processed; 
waxes of animalor 
vegetable origin; 
inedible mixtures  42.160  69.873  56.242  52.319  49.017  56.000  
   
      WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
- 32 - 
 
   Year 2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
5 Chemicals and 
related products, 
n.e.s.  27.819.257  31.762.649  32.395.140  30.975.437  30.848.703  44.424.834  
51 Organic chemicals  4.326.538  5.415.321  6.124.101  5.615.220  5.670.581  9.024.912  
52 Inorganic chemicals  1.189.036  1.401.850  1.500.489  1.597.122  1.495.289  2.148.140  
53 Dyeing, tanning and 
colouring materials  1.765.309  2.036.338  2.040.306  1.922.309  1.945.444  2.416.292  
54 Medicinal and 
pharmaceutical 
products  4.587.189  4.856.350  4.879.771  5.297.601  5.355.336  7.210.441  
55 Essential oils, 
resinoids and 
perfume materials; 
toilet, polishing  1.829.788  2.028.307  1.999.552  1.879.934  1.829.455  1.987.289  
56 Fertilizers (other 
than those of group 
272) 1.230.692  1.370.897  1.209.645  1.412.245  1.120.620  1.980.768  
57 Plastics in primary 
forms  8.587.624  9.968.091  9.994.061  8.928.582  8.892.153  14.217.694  
58 Plastics in non -
primary forms  1.793.351  1.958.299  1.767.920  1.640.888  1.644.417  2.011.989  
59 Chemical materials 
and products, n.e.s  2.509.730  2.727.196  2.879.295  2.681.536  2.895.408  3.427.310  
   
      
6 Manufactured 
goods classified 
chiefly by 
material  32.934.049  37.223.374  37.572.628  33.136.971  32.127.826  47.771.659  
61 Leather, leather 
manufactures, 
n.e.s. and dressed 
furskins  262.031  271.602  296.595  261.945  218.148  247.083  
62 Rubber 
manufactures, 
n.e.s.  1.762.075  1.843.777  1.744.006  1.579.775  1.622.052  1.825.462  
63 Cork and wood 
manufactures 
(excluding 
furniture)  670.764  603.137  370.519  222.903  252.399  278.306  
64 Paper, paperboard 
and articles of 
paper pulp, of 
paper or of 
paperboard  2.807.201  2.890.789  2.816.951  2.553.902  2.465.664  2.769.851  
65 Textile yarn, 
fabrics, made -up 
articles, n.e.s. and 
related products  6.185.832  6.886.615  6.389.458  6.231.277  5.265.521  6.448.454  
66 Non-metallic 
mineral 
manufactures, 
n.e.s.  1.739.993  1.801.142  1.800.832  1.619.189  1.679.429  2.000.995  
67 Iron and steel  9.165.030  10.667.457  11.253.964  9.381.482  9.558.899  17.410.442  
68 Non-ferrous metals  6.310.751  8.023.018  8.764.542  7.525.348  7.556.335  12.905.432  
69 Manufactures of 
metals, n.e.s.  4.030.371  4.235.837  4.135.761  3.761.150  3.509.379  3.885.635  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
- 33 - 
 
   Year 2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
7 Machinery and 
transport 
equipment  70.999.808  72.305.377  62.306.648  52.338.166  62.685.878  70.865.200  
71 Power generating 
machineries and 
equipments  8.523.400  8.201.934  8.177.156  7.617.299  7.655.482  8.629.528  
72 Machineries 
specialized for 
particular industries  6.853.554  6.383.781  6.301.782  4.021.372  5.392.261  7.433.107  
73 Metal working 
machineries  1.599.588  1.528.356  1.535.676  1.282.250  1.523.966  2.059.021  
74 General industrial 
machineries and 
equipments, n.e.s. 
and machine parts, 
n.e.s.  10.474.573  10.452.481  9.942.124  8.376.593  9.504.138  11.338.874  
75 Office machines and 
automatic data 
processing 
machines  2.786.364  2.869.637  2.400.142  2.357.154  3.150.782  3.608.777  
76 Telecommunications 
and sound 
recording and 
reproducing 
apparatus and 
equipments  7.039.349  7.198.601  5.724.800  5.260.335  5.846.237  5.932.713  
77 Electrical 
machineries, 
apparatus and 
appliances, n.e.s. 
and electrical parts 
thereof  10.640.225  12.371.028  10.262.947  8.810.788  9.658.322  12.399.233  
78 Road vehicles 
(including 
air-cushion 
vehicles)  17.952.509  17.510.554  14.199.516  9.881.238  15.062.667  15.242.029  
79 Other transport 
equipments  5.130.247  5.789.005  3.762.505  4.731.136  4.892.023  4.221.918  
8 Miscellaneous 
manufactured 
articles  13.136.107  13.354.644  12.807.668  12.144.075  10.991.637  12.124.040  
81 Prefabricated 
buildings; sanitary, 
plumbing, heating 
and lighting fixtures 
and fittings, n.e.s.  586.470  548.532  462.258  343.006  384.599  388.621  
82 Furniture, bedding, 
mattress supports 
and cushions  584.168  591.605  578.413  533.553  479.290  535.352  
83 Travel goods, 
handbags and 
similar containers  276.636  257.366  239.164  249.576  165.535  203.278  
84 Articles of apparel 
and clothing 
accessories  2.533.037  2.332.285  2.143.397  1.757.913  1.642.083  2.001.908  
85 Footwear  758.741  688.605  673.572  539.195  498.033  587.849  
87 Professional, 
scientific and 
controlling 
instruments and 
apparatus, n.e.s.  3.522.083  3.881.640  3.700.911  3.581.624  3.762.799  3.831.288  WT/TPR/G/ 439 • Türkiye  
 
- 34 - 
 
   Year 2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
88 Photographic 
apparatus, 
equipments and 
supplies and optical 
goods,watches and 
clocks  830.470  864.765  802.712  727.760  621.916  766.030  
89 Miscellaneous 
manufactured 
articles, n.e.s.  4.044.501  4.189.845  4.207.242  4.411.447  3.437.384  3.809.715  
9 Commodities and 
transactions not 
classified 
elsewhere in the 
SITC  22.787.015  39.145.435  36.256.251  39.236.428  43.962.158  39.546.802  
93 Special transactions 
and commodities 
not classified 
according to kind  16.327.862  22.568.081  24.953.980  27.967.481  18.773.333  34.047.536  
96 Coins (other than 
gold) ,not being 
legal tender  - 0 1 9 4.665  - 
97 Gold, non -monetary 
(excluding gold ores 
and concentrates)  6.459.153  16.577.353  11.302.270  11.268.938  25.184.159  5.499.266  
99 Other goods not 
classified elsewhere  - - - - - - 
 
Table 5 International Trade in Services  
(USD Million)   
Exports  Imports  
2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020) 2021  
S - Total Services  46,330 53,479 58,623 62,737 35,138 55,604 25,803 27,149 28,454 28,662 23,879 29,593 
SOX - Commercial Services  45,423 52,747 57,846 61,940 34,772 55,263 24,495 26,038 27,372 27,459 22,924 28,567 
SA - Manufacturing 
services on physical inputs 
owned by others  365 329 299 338 286 282 149 135 139 52 67 159 
SB - Maintenance and 
repair services  784 1,012 1,134 1,234 1,166 1,419 841 637 746 768 597 694 
SC - Transport  19,734 22,123 24,340 23,396 16,087 24,420 7,053 7,851 9,453 9,575 7,989 10,923 
SD - Travel  18,743 22,478 25,220 29,829 10,220 20,827 4,783 4,823 4,595 4,110 1,040 1,650 
 SE - Construction  447 564 559 364 239 260 205 137 186 59 19 33 
SF - Insurance and 
pension services  956 1,326 1,277 1,290 960 1,011 2,011 2,495 1,967 1,877 2,037 2,281 
SG - Financial services  380 511 555 471 381 386 978 684 688 482 605 518 
SH - Charges for the use of 
intellectual property  88 113 167 196 258 377 1,883 1,778 2,114 2,182 2,349 2,738 
SI - Telecommunications, 
computer and information 
services  1,054 1,176 1,430 1,462 2,114 2,567 2,046 2,387 2,132 2,672 3,134 3,261 
SJ - Other business 
services  2,732 2,970 2,739 3,184 2,908 3,521 4,403 4,980 5,243 5,499 4,833 6,008 
SK - Personal, cultural and 
recreational services  139 146 126 176 154 193 143 131 108 184 255 302 
SL - Memo item: 
Government goods and 
services n.i.e  907 731 777 796 365 341 1,308 1,112 1,082 1,203 956 1,026 
Source:  TURKSTAT , CBRT.